Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Khabib Nurmagomedov is seen before the fight between Abubakar Nurmagomedov (red gloves) and Gadzhi Omargadzhiev (blue gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Responds Sharply To Conor McGregor’s ‘Scam’ Accusations As Tensions Rise Again

Social media feuds between retired fighters never really end, they just pause occasionally before erupting again. Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have been going at each other since before their legendary UFC 229 fight in 2018. That night ended with Nurmagomedov winning by submission and then jumping the cage to attack McGregor’s team. Years have passed, both men have retired, but the hatred apparently burns as strong as ever.

McGregor recently launched accusations about Nurmagomedov’s digital merchandise venture involving traditional Dagestani papakha hats. He claimed Nurmagomedov scammed fans by using his late father’s name to sell NFTs, then deleting content after collecting money. Those are serious allegations that question someone’s integrity and honor. Nurmagomedov Nurmagomedov responds to rival Conor McGregor’s scam allegations with a forceful denial.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Fires Back With Strong Defense

Nurmagomedov didn’t waste time crafting a measured response to McGregor’s accusations. He went straight at the Irishman, calling him an absolute liar right from the start. Nurmagomedov stated that McGregor will always try to darken his name after getting destroyed that night, referring to their 2018 UFC fight. The undefeated Dagestani fighter clearly still takes pride in dominating McGregor when they finally met in the octagon.

“You absolute liar. You will always try to darken my name, after you got destroyed that night, but you will never achieve that! Yes, good guys don’t do that. They don’t create exclusive digital gifts with real time value, that you can share with your friends and family. Gifts in the shape of Papakha – hat that symbolize traditions and culture of Dagestan people. Traditions and culture that slowly walking over this world, whether you like it or not! Gifts that you can find exclusively on Telegram, greatest messaging platform on the world.”

You absolute liar

You will always try to darken my name, after you got destroyed that night, but you will never achieve that!

Yes, good guys don’t do that.

They don’t create exclusive digital gifts with real time value, that you can share with your friends and family.

Gifts…
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) November 26, 2025

The papakha holds deep cultural significance in the Caucasus region, particularly in Dagestan. Khabib Nurmagomedov wore it during many UFC appearances, turning it into a symbol recognized worldwide by fight fans. Using it for a digital merchandise line makes sense from a branding perspective, assuming the project was handled properly and fans received what they paid for.

The Project Details And Past Controversies

Nurmagomedov mentioned that the digital gifts are available exclusively on Telegram, which he called the greatest messaging platform in the world. That’s an interesting choice given Telegram’s reputation as a less regulated space compared to mainstream social media platforms. The exclusivity aspect could explain why some fans felt confused about accessing their purchases.

The exchange between these two rivals brought renewed attention to Nurmagomedov’s past connections with cryptocurrency and NFT ventures. Some fans have previously questioned the reliability of projects associated with the retired champion. The crypto and NFT space is notorious for celebrity endorsements that go sideways, leaving regular people holding worthless digital items while promoters cash out early.

Whether Nurmagomedov’s papakha project was legitimate or problematic depends on details neither fighter fully explained. McGregor’s track record of exaggeration makes his accusations questionable, but Nurmagomedov’s defensive response didn’t provide concrete evidence either.

(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)

Conor McGregor

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!