UFC 309 just couldn’t get any better. After entertaining the fighting community with an impressive first-round KO win, Ramiz Brahimaj put a white hat on top of Joe Rogan’s head during his post-fight interview. But what’s the significance of the hat? Well, it turned out to be one of Brahimaj’s family heirlooms. 

While talking to the media after defeating Mickey Gall, Brahimaj was asked about the hat that he gave Rogan. He replied, “Oh, that’s an Albanian plis. That was my grandfather’s. And it’s like a tribal hat, right?”  The plis, also known as a qeleshe, or qylat, is a skull cap without any brim. Needless to say, the traditional apparel has spread to all Albanian-inhabited lands. But Brahimaj’s gift for Rogan was a bit more than that.

That particular plis belonged to Brahimaj’s late grandfather. As soon as the reporter asked him about it, the welterweight fighter pleaded with the media persons to tweet to the UFC color commentator, asking him to take care of his family history. That was when the reporter asked him about the shoutout he gave in old Albanian. 

Brahimaj said, “The shoutout that I gave in Albanian, I was just telling…’This was my grandfather’s hat, I’m giving it to him.’ You know, my grandfather was an amazing human being. May his soul rest in peace. And one thing about him, he always had a big kind heart. He was a very giving guy, you know. And I knew I just wanted to give, give that little piece of my family history to Joe, and bear in mind, I never had an in-cage interview with Joe Rogan. So, why not make it a memorable one tonight, right?”  

But do you know how Brahimaj claimed the win? Let’s take a look at his performance against Gall.

What happened between Ramiz Brahimaj and Mickey Gall at UFC 309?

The bout between Brahimaj and Gall was expected to be a grappling-heavy bout. However, it began with Brahimaj executing a front kick, followed by Gall showing off his boxing skills. Soon, Brahimaj slipped but recovered and took Gall in with a Thai clinch. But the two separated quickly and continued the flow of strikes. 

When the clock struck 2:50, Brahimaj landed his right hand on his opponent’s face, forcing him to back down. This was the opportunity the 32-year-old fighter from the Bronx was waiting for. He sent forth a powerful left followed by a right fist to Gall’s temple, which sent the Kill Cliff FC representative to the ground. This was indeed Brahimaj’s first-ever win via knockout, and he made sure to make it memorable by giving his family’s heirloom to Rogan. 

Did the fight proceed as per your prediction? What are your thoughts on Brahimaj giving Rogan his grandfather’s plis? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.