Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s rivalry has returned to the spotlight, this time dominating Crypto Twitter after McGregor accused Khabib’s new Telegram-based NFT collection of scamming fans.
The claim triggered a swift response from Khabib and a sharp intervention from on-chain investigator ZachXBT, who redirected attention toward McGregor’s own controversial token launch.
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Crypto Feud Ignites After Khabib’s NFT Launch
Khabib promoted a new digital collectibles drop on Telegram this week, themed around the Dagestani papakha hat he wore during UFC walkouts.
The collection sold out quickly, generating about $4.4 million in a single day.
The former UFC champion framed the NFTs as cultural digital gifts rather than speculative assets. He highlighted their link to Dagestani tradition and presented them as shareable items within Telegram’s ecosystem.
However, McGregor publicly rejected that narrative. He accused Khabib of running a “multi-million-dollar scam,” alleging that promotional posts were deleted after the sale.
His comments triggered immediate backlash from both MMA and crypto communities.
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McGregor Escalates Long-Running Rivalry
McGregor’s post revived the bitter rivalry born from UFC 229, where Khabib defeated him in 2018. The pair have exchanged barbs for years, often referencing family, legacy, and national pride.
This time, McGregor suggested Khabib used his father’s legacy and Dagestani cultural symbols to mislead fans. His message framed the drop as a “cash grab” disguised as heritage.
The accusation spread quickly, drawing strong reactions across social media.
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Khabib responded within hours. He called McGregor an “absolute liar” and accused him of trying to “darken my name” since the UFC 229 loss.
He reiterated that the NFTs are cultural gifts and denied any wrongdoing.
ZachXBT’s Intervention Shifts the Narrative
The feud escalated further when on-chain investigator ZachXBT entered the conversation. He reposted McGregor’s comments but flipped the accusation back onto him.
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ZachXBT pointed to McGregor’s failed REAL token earlier this year. The coin raised far less than its public target, fell sharply in price, and lost community support within weeks.
McGregor then deleted most promotional posts, leaving the project abandoned and investors frustrated.
Crypto Twitter quickly framed this as hypocrisy. Many noted that McGregor’s own token showed more red flags than Khabib’s Telegram collectibles.
After the backlash intensified, McGregor deleted his “scam” posts about Khabib.
Despite the allegations, no reports indicate that buyers lost access to their NFTs. The items still function as digital gifts inside Telegram, with no broken utilities or frozen assets.
Khabib has not marketed the drop as a financial investment.
