The Siblings from Dagestan Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and at Manchester United.

Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his clan's life has evolved since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017.

"I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor remarks.

"My father and I always say, 'this was the country I should have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles offered superior professional prospects for him and his siblings.

The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before enrolling in one of the nation's colleges.

However, life now looks slightly distinct for the Ibragimov family.

Ibragim is now a professional MMA athlete and is regarded as one of the top talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA league.

His brothers have taken a separate route in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a spot in the first team.

"The main thing for us is to squeeze the maximum from our chosen fields," explains Ibragim.

"I hope them to represent all of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a different team."

Starting as Grapplers to Football Prodigies

Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among fight fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in the past few years.

The region has a rich history in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo style and creating numerous Olympic and world champions.

This success is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are often pushed to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk.

"As a young, my dad was always telling me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to defend yourself, your family, and your companions," states Ibragim.

"So we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's why everyone understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise."

"Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a great deal."

"Many of the footballers he faces lack the identical foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling."

Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches placed him with boys five years older.

He was unfazed by the mistake and was perfectly capable competing against older players thanks to his background in wrestling.

"They thought Amir and I were the same age, apparently," remarks Ibragim.

Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's talent and he moved across the Pennines consequently.

"They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim.

"One of their talent spotters saw him play and selected him straight away."

Six years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful players in the club's history to practice with the senior side when he achieved this in April 2023.

"Do you know what he told me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should let all the young players get game time right now."

"In my opinion they would play worse than the existing first-team players. I think the youngsters are hungrier than the current first-team players."

Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also transferred to Manchester United.

"Gazik, this kid is talented," continues Ibragim.

"He learned every skill quicker than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford

Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days sharpening his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team.

In August, he spent three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC title fight.

"I would never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim admits.

"He was the best fighter in the world – and we always used to look up to him when we were young."

"Now, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev."

Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is eager to win a world title of his own someday.

However that does not prevent him from occasionally fantasizing of representing United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

"I had a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he recalls.

"Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized."

"A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be huge."