Why does Khabib Nurmagomedov wear that hat?

Last Modified Jan 16, 2025 03:44 GMT
UFC 242: Khabib v Poirier
UFC 242: Khabib v Poirier

Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov, a former mixed martial artist from Russia who competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was born on September 20, 1988. He held the UFC lightweight title for the longest period of time, from April 2018 to March 2021.

In October 2020, he retired with a record of 29 victories and 0 defeats. On June 30, 2022, Nurmagomedov, who is regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Khabib Nurmagomedov's hat

Nurmagomedov, who competed out of San Jose, is from the Russian Dagestan region, where the “papakha” hat is traditionally worn. The hat is made of wool and sheepskin. Papakha is pronounced puh-pah-hah, by the way. Nurmagomedov does it to respect his homeland.

What is Papakha?

Men in the Caucasus, as well as in uniformed regiments in the area and elsewhere, wear wool hats called papakhas. The word "Papakha" has Turkic origins. There are two distinct papakhas of Caucasian descent.

One is a high fur hat, pronounced "Papaha,” that is typically made of karakul sheepskin. The hat is placed on the head so that the brim touches the temples and has the general appearance of a cylinder with one open end. When not in use, some examples have ear flaps that can be folded up. The second design is known as a “Kubanka” and is comparable to the papaha but shorter and devoid of ear flaps.

The Circassians, Chechens, Dagestanis, Ingush, and other Caucasian tribes all wear papakhi. Georgians also wear papakhas, primarily in the mountainous Pshavi, Khevi, Mtiuleti, and Tusheti regions. The Papakha was first worn by the Cossacks in the Russian army in 1855, following the campaigns in the Caucasus Mountains, and later by the rest of the cavalry.

Related: Russian UFC Fighters

*Last updated on January 16, 2025.

FAQs On Khabib Nurmagomedov's hat

Nurmagomedov wears the wool hat, known as a papakha, to show respect for his homeland and tradition.

Papakha is a traditional wool hat worn by men in the Caucasus region, including Dagestan, where Nurmagomedov is from.

The net worth of Khabib Nurmagomedev is estimated to be $40 million as of January 2025. 

A. Khabib Nurmagomedov boasts a record of 29 wins and no losses in MMA. 

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