Dagestan is known for many things- its scenic, mountainous landscapes, unique culture, wrestling brilliance, and producing world-class mixed martial artists. Today the MMA world knows more about the remote Russian region than at any time in its history. Khabib Nurmagomedov, of course, was the first UFC champion out of Dagestan, but he was just the beginning.

The realm of combat sports has a veritable surfeit of Dagestani fighters, who are massively over-represented at the top levels of the sport compared to their relatively tiny population. Now, as Khabib’s cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov stands at the cusp of winning a UFC world championship, we take a look at the Papakha hat, which has become the most well-known symbol of Dagestan.

Meaning of Umar Nurmagomedov’s hat ‘Papakha’

The ‘Papakha’ hat is a traditional headgear made of wool, and worn by people across the Caucuses Mountains. This hat is prevalent not only in Dagestan but also in the neighboring countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Additionally, its use goes as far as to the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan.

There are however some differences in the exact style, color, and even material of Papakha in these countries. The style of white Papakha Umar Nurmagomedov wears is typical of his home province and is also worn in Azerbaijan. The history of the hat and when it first started being worn is unknown.

It could have been in use since humans settled in the Causcauses and started rearing sheep, but this is pure speculation and the hat may be much more recent in origin. After all, it is very functional and ideal for dealing with the biting cold temperatures of the region.

Is Umar’s Papakha the same as Khabib’s hat?

Yes, Umar and Khabib wear the exact same type of Papakha, which is not surprising since the cousins are both from Dagestan. This white Papakha, as we have already mentioned, is in vogue in the Russian region. In contrast, Umar’s UFC 311 opponent, Merab Dvalishvili hails from Georgia and sports a black or brown Papakha since that is the style in his homeland.

The reason Khabib, Merab, and Umar wear the Papakha in the Octagon is that it is a visible and instantly recognizable marker of their identity and a statement that they are proud of their heritage, as Khabib has said in an interview.

“It’s an honor for me to represent my traditional headgear around the world, my culture, my history because Dagestan has a very big history, a very big culture. It’s an honor for me because I have the opportunity. A lot of people know me and I want people to know where I am from and I want to show people Dagestan, Dagestan culture, Dagestan history,” ‘The Eagle’ told British tabloid ‘The Mirror’ in an interview. What do you think about the Papakha and its use by Dagestani fighters?