The long-standing rivalry between former UFC champions Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov resurfaced this week following the launch of Nurmagomedov’s latest NFT project.
Retired lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, recently unveiled “Papakhas,” a series of digital collectibles inspired by the traditional Dagestani hat he famously wore during UFC walkouts. The NFTs, introduced on Telegram, reportedly sold out shortly after launch.
The rapid sell-out drew immediate scrutiny from McGregor, who publicly questioned the legitimacy of the project and accused Nurmagomedov of deceiving supporters. The Irishman, who has repeatedly clashed with Nurmagomedov on social and professional fronts, reignited the feud by suggesting the NFT campaign may have been intentionally misleading.
McGregor’s criticism intensified after earlier promotional posts for the NFT launch disappeared from Nurmagomedov’s social media channels. The removal led McGregor to imply that the project lacked transparency, claiming the move amounted to exploiting cultural heritage for profit.
He issued a pointed statement accusing Nurmagomedov of misusing personal and regional symbols during the sale, writing,
“There is just no way good guy khabib used his late fathers name, as well as Dagestan’s culture, to scam his fans and fire sell a bunch of digital NFT’s online and then delete all of the content after they were sold, leaving his fans robbed of their money? There is just no way good guy do this.”
McGregor’s comments framed the issue as a breach of trust, alleging that the quick disappearance of promotional material undermined confidence in the project’s authenticity and intentions.
Nurmagomedov dismissed McGregor’s claims outright, describing the accusations as fabrications. He insisted the NFTs were legitimate digital offerings designed to celebrate Dagestani traditions rather than exploit them. He reiterated that the project maintained cultural integrity and argued that McGregor’s remarks were motivated by lingering resentment from their 2018 fight, which Nurmagomedov won decisively.
According to Nurmagomedov, the allegations were an attempt to stir controversy rather than address genuine concerns about the project or its distribution.
McGregor’s own history with digital assets adds further complexity to the dispute. The former UFC champion previously partnered with Real World Gaming DAO to promote a meme token that sought to blend cultural appeal with utility-based features. That initiative ultimately fell short of expectations, prompting refunds for participants who had contributed during the pre-sale phase.
Nurmagomedov’s NFT rollout, in contrast, reportedly achieved strong initial demand. Still, questions surrounding transparency and communication underscore the broader challenges associated with digital collectible launches.
As NFTs continue to attract both mainstream attention and regulatory focus, disputes like this underscore the importance of clear communication, documentation, and accountability in digital asset markets.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice
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