Khabib Nurmagomedov, the renowned UFC fighter, is known not only for his impressive fighting skills but also for his distinctive headwear: the papakha. This tall fur hat, typically made of sheepskin, has become a symbol of Nurmagomedov's identity and heritage.
Two Persian peasants and two Persian officers gambling, between 1876 and 1933. The standing peasant is wearing a papakha.
The Papakha: A Symbol of Dagestan and the Caucasus
Nurmagomedov wears his papakha as a nod to his upbringing. He was raised in Dagestan, Russia, where the papakha is a traditional garment often worn by Dagestanis and other tribes of the Caucasus region. According to the Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World, men and male children wear the papakha year-round.
“[My] Papakha represents where I am from. My small hometown in Dagestan,” he previously told Russia Today, according to the Mirror.
Papaqs are very important to mountainous peoples' of the Caucasus, where a man's hat is considered a very important part of his identity. Papakhi are donned by the Circassians, Chechens, Dagestanis, and other Caucasian tribes. Papakhas are also donned in Georgia mostly worn in mountainous regions of Pshavi, Khevi, Mtiuleti, and Tusheti.
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As for why Nurmagomedov wears the hat up until he fights, there seems to be a deeper meaning there.
“There are all kinds of superstitions around papakha, like you never take it off unless you fight the enemy. It’s like baring the blade of your sabre. If you take off the papakha, you don’t put it on again until you have completed the fight,” Vice reported back in 2014.
After UFC 205, Nurmagomedov put his papakha on Joe Rogan’s head while doing his post-match interview. You can check that out in the video below.
Every time Joe Rogan talked about Khabib Nurmagomedov on the Joe Rogan Experience
The Papakha's History and Significance
The papakha, sometimes spelled “papaha,” is described as a tall fur hat that is usually made of sheepskin. The hat has the general appearance of a cylinder with one open end and is set upon the head in such a way as to have the brim touch the temples. Some examples have ear-flaps which can be folded up when not in use.
The papakha is a sheepskin hat worn by men throughout the Caucasus and also in uniformed regiments in the region and beyond. There are two different Caucasian papakhas. One, called a papaha, is a high fur hat, usually made of karakul sheepskin.
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The Papakha in the Russian Army
In 1855, after the campaigns in the Caucasus Mountains, the Papakha was introduced in the Russian army as an official part of the uniform for the Cossacks, and later for the rest of the cavalry. Shortly after the Russian Revolution of 1917, papakhas were removed from the new Red Army uniform because of their association with the old Tsarist regime and the fact that many Cossack regiments of the Tsarist army fought against the Bolsheviks.
Papakhas became part of the uniform again in 1935, but in 1941, were reserved exclusively for full colonels, generals and marshals, thus becoming a symbol of status and high rank. In 1994, they were once again removed from military use. Allegedly this was by request of the wearers, who found the hat inefficient. (As the papakha is a relatively short hat that does not protect the ears well, it might be well suited to the mild climate of the Caucasus, but not to lower temperatures elsewhere.)
The act of removing the papakhas was seen in some quarters as an attempt by the Boris Yeltsin regime to abandon earlier Soviet traditions and symbolically demonstrate the country's commitment to a new political course.
The Papakha's Popularity and Availability
Nurmagomedov’s hat is so popular, in fact, that the hats are sold on Amazon with his name in the descriptions. For example, this one is selling for about $70.
“Famous MMA UFC fighter Habib Nurmagomedov’s headgear. Real papakha hats have a specific smell, which is normal for sheep fur NOT affected by industrial chemicals.
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According to the Mirror, Nurmagomedov gifted a papakha to Cristiano Ronaldo after meeting the soccer star earlier this year. Ronaldo gave Nurmagomedov a t-shirt in return.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Material | Sheepskin, often karakul |
| Origin | Caucasus region, including Dagestan |
| Significance | Symbol of identity, tradition, and heritage |
| Popularity | Worn by men in the Caucasus, associated with Khabib Nurmagomedov |
| Modern Availability | Sold online, often associated with Nurmagomedov's name |