Some surprizing photos were posted on Instagram by Jacob & Co just a few days before the UFC 254 fight between Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov and American Justin Gaethje.
Jacob & Co founder and chairman Jacob Arabo unveiled watches created in partnership with Khabib before the fight. This was a subtle hint that he believed the lightweight champion would soon emerge triumphant from the Octagon, extending his unbeaten record to 29-0. The collection has four models: two Epic X Skeleton skeleton watches and two Epic X Chrono chronographs.
Their case backs are decorated with an illustration of the fighter in his iconic snow-white Dagistani papakha hat. He always enters the Octagon in this signature sheepskin headdress, which he of course donned for fight night on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. After the bout, Khabib announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono Khabib
Jacob & Co Epic X Tourbillion Khabib
What will his fans do now? Their next fight will be for the limited edition Khabib watches. The fighter’s undefeated 29-0 record has been honored with the limited release of 29 blue skeletonized Epic X Tourbillons, each engraved with his nickname, 'The Eagle'. The other Epic X Titanium Skeleton in lustrous green is limited to 100 pieces.
As with the two chronographs, the shades that have been chosen have traditional associations in Islamic culture. The distinctive chronograph movement can be seen through a green mineral crystal dial encircled by a 47 mm titanium case (one of the versions has a black DLC coating). Jacob & Co definitely made a good call by partnering with Khabib, whose fight was watched by 11 million viewers on Russian television alone.