Nurmagomedov’s Octagon walk isn’t infamous for his entrance music or any crazy acrobatics, which we’ve become accustomed to seeing in recent years.
It’s well known amongst mixed martial arts fans because of a certain piece of attire he wears every time he prepares to enter the cage.
Every time the UFC lightweight title contender makes his way to cage, he always dons a frizzy hat, which many have mistaken for a wig.
MMA fans across the globe often ask themselves the same question every time they see ‘The Eagle’ wearing the ‘wig’: What is the name of the item sat atop of his head?
The garment Nurmagomedov wears isn’t a wig at all, it’s a papakha, a piece of clothing which is native to the 29-year-old’s homeland of Dagestan.
The papakha, pronounced ‘puh-pah-hah’, is an item of headwear which was often worn Avarian shepherds.
Nurmagomedov will no doubt wear his papakha on his way to the Octagon for his UFC 219 bout with Edson Barboza, which serves as the co-main event of the final UFC card of the year.
UFC 219: Cyborg vs Holm fight card
Cris ‘Cyborg’ vs. Holly Holm (women’s featherweight title fight)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza (lightweight bout)
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Carla Esparza (women’s strawweight bout)
Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny (welterweight bout)
Dan Hooker vs. Marc Diakiese (lightweight bout)
Prelims
Khalil Rountree vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (light-heavyweight bout)
Myles Jury vs. Rick Glenn (men’s featherweight bout)
Louis Smolka vs. Matheus Nicolau (men’s flyweight bout)
Fight Pass Prelims
Tim Elliot vs. Mark De La Rosa (men’s bantamweight bout)
Marvin Vettori vs. Omari Akhmedov (middleweight bout)
