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Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov reignited their rivalry this week, this time over an NFT collection row.
Author: Sahil Thakur
28th November 2025 – Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov reignited their rivalry this week, this time over an NFT row. The tension began on November 26 when McGregor accused Khabib of scamming fans through a new NFT drop. His claim quickly spread across X and reopened one of MMA’s most heated feuds.
Khabib recently launched the “Papakha” NFT collection. It featured 29,000 digital versions of the traditional Dagestani hat he wore throughout his UFC career. The drop went live on Telegram and reportedly generated more than 4.4 million dollars within 25 hours.
Soon after the sale ended, fans noticed that promotional posts disappeared from Khabib’s Instagram and X accounts. McGregor saw this and immediately attacked. He accused Khabib of exploiting Dagestani culture and his late father’s legacy to pull money from supporters. He wrote that Khabib “robbed” his fans and deleted the evidence. McGregor later removed the post.
Khabib replied quickly. He called McGregor a liar and defended the project. According to him, the NFTs honored his father and celebrated Dagestani heritage. He said the drop was a digital keepsake and not a scheme to extract money from fans.
The exchange drew significant attention. Yet the situation escalated further once blockchain investigator ZachXBT commented on it.
ZachXBT highlighted McGregor’s own troubled crypto history. He referenced McGregor’s 2022 “McGregor Realm” NFT project. He also pointed to the Irish fighter’s 2025 token launch, $REAL. McGregor promised staking rewards and a sealed‑bid auction, but the token raised only 39 percent of its target. The project issued refunds and then faded.
ZachXBT posted a screenshot of McGregor’s criticism along with a brief message: “Sound familiar.” He later deleted the post. His comment shifted the conversation and made the dispute more complicated.
Both men have faced criticism for past crypto promotions. Khabib endorsed an NFT tied to GoMining in 2023. He also partnered with Wahed, a Sharia‑compliant finance platform, and received mixed reactions. McGregor struggled with both McGregor Realm and $REAL. Fans accused him of overhyping failed products.
Because of this, the renewed fight between the athletes raised bigger questions about celebrity involvement in digital assets.
The dispute arrives during a broader decline in meme coins and NFTs. The meme sector peaked at 116.7 billion dollars in early 2025. It then fell to 39.4 billion dollars in November. It has recovered slightly to 46.6 billion dollars, but sentiment remains cautious.
Regulators are now paying closer attention. The Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom recently arrested two people connected to the collapse of Basis Markets. That project promised algorithmic trading returns through NFT‑based memberships. Investigators say the promoters diverted investor funds instead.
Enforcement pressures are rising. ZachXBT also revealed earlier this year that over 150 influencers failed to disclose paid promotions for crypto tokens. His findings contributed to a growing push for transparency.
McGregor and Khabib brought their rivalry into crypto once again. However, the argument now reflects a larger issue. Celebrity endorsements continue to move markets, yet many of these projects lack clarity, disclosure, or accountability. Fans often take the biggest risks while promoters face few immediate consequences.
This latest clash shows how quickly accusations can spread and how fast old controversies can return. It also shows how the crypto market continues to struggle with trust. Whether the Papakha NFTs remain a simple tribute or become something more serious will depend on what comes next.
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