Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he thinks about how his clan's life has changed since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago.
"I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League star remarks.
"We frequently remark, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'"
The young man departed his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles offered superior career opportunities 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 country's universities.
However, reality has turned out slightly distinct for the Ibragimov household.
Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts fighter and is regarded as one of the top talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA league.
His brothers have chosen a different route in sport and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a position in the senior squad.
"The main thing for us is to squeeze everything from our sports," says Ibragim.
"I desire them to represent all of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a different team."
From Grapplers to Football Talents
Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC titleholders in the past few years.
The region has a long history in wrestling, excelling in the sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world winners.
This achievement is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are often pushed to begin combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.
"When I was a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my little brothers that we had to be powerful, firstly to defend yourself, your family, and your friends," states Ibragim.
"Therefore we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise."
"Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it assisted my little brothers a lot."
"Some of the players he comes up against don't have the identical foundation he has. That's why he's solid, powerful and incredibly driven – due to wrestling."
Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys significantly older.
He was unfazed by the oversight and was perfectly capable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.
"They believed Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim.
Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad.
The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's talent and he moved across the Pennines as a result.
"They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," recalls 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 became one of the most youthful players in the club's history to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023.
"Do you know what he said to me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.
"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to allow all the youthful players play right now."
"I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the present squad members."
Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise transferred to Manchester United.
"Gazik, this youngster is gifted," continues Ibragim.
"He picked up every skill quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."
'A Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford
Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days perfecting his MMA skills at a local gym.
In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev prepare for a November UFC championship bout.
"I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits.
"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 sparring alongside Islam Makhachev."
Recently training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim says he is eager to win a world title of his own one day.
But that does not stop him from occasionally fantasizing of representing United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.
"I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he recalls.
"Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized."
"An event at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was speaking to the PFL officials about it to see if they would do it. It would be enormous."
