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

Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he thinks about how his clan's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan a decade ago.

"I love it here," the PFL star remarks.

"My father and I often say, 'this was the nation 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 covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional prospects for him and his siblings.

The initial plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete their education before enrolling in one of the nation's universities.

However, life has turned out quite distinct for the Ibragimov family.

Ibragim is now a pro MMA fighter and is seen as one of the leading prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA league.

His brothers have chosen a separate path in sport and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the senior squad.

"The main thing for us is to squeeze everything out of our sports," explains Ibragim.

"I hope them to play for every one of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a different team."

From Wrestlers to Football Prodigies

Located in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among fight enthusiasts for generating a number of UFC titleholders in the past few years.

The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the sambo discipline and producing numerous Olympic and world champions.

This achievement is not a coincidence, however, as youth from the region are often encouraged to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk.

"When I was a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your companions," states Ibragim.

"So we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

"Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my younger brothers a lot."

"Many of the footballers he comes up against lack the same base he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and incredibly driven – because of wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his actual age, trainers grouped him with boys five years older.

He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than capable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," says Ibragim.

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

The family's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines consequently.

"They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim.

"One of their scouts saw him play and picked him immediately."

Six years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's history to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023.

"Know what he told me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim says.

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They should allow all the youthful players get game time right now."

"I don't think they would play worse than the current first-team players. I believe the young guys are more motivated than the present first-team players."

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise transferred to Manchester United.

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

"He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford

Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days perfecting his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team.

In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout.

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

"He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we always used to idolize him when we were young."

"Now, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev."

Recently training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to claim a world title of his own someday.

But that does not stop him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

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

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

"A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they could do it. It would be massive."