Conor McGregor Blasts Khabib Nurmagomedov For Turning Papakha Hats Into ‘Father’s Scam’ Digital Merch

Conor McGregor has reignited his old rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov — this time over an online collectible. McGregor accused the retired champion of using his late father’s name and the cultural significance of the traditional “papakha” hat to push a digital drop, calling the whole venture a scam.

In a series of posts on social media, McGregor wrote: “There is just no way good guy Khabib used his late father’s name, as well as Dagestan’s culture, to scam his fans and fire-sell a bunch of digital NFTs online and then delete all of the content after they were sold, leaving his fans robbed of their money?” He added bluntly: “Father’s plan has now become Father’s scam.”

He went on to say it was a “shame and a stain on his father’s name,” describing the move as “so low.”

The NFTs in question — dubbed “digital papakhas” — were presented as exclusive, cultural collectibles tied to Dagestani heritage. The auction reportedly sold out, but McGregor and others say the subsequent deletion of promotional material and lack of transparency raise serious concerns about legitimacy.

In response, Nurmagomedov fired back: “You absolute liar… Good guys don’t do that. They don’t create exclusive digital gifts with real-time value … Gifts in the shape of Papakha — hats that symbolize traditions and culture of Dagestan people.” He defended the drop as a cultural tribute rather than a cash grab.

The exchange quickly escalated, with McGregor mocking the idea of calling paid NFTs “gifts,” and demanding an apology. He wrote that selling something can’t be called a gift — and used harsh language to underline his point.

This digital-era confrontation shows how deep the bitterness between the two former rivals still runs. What began as a fight inside the cage has now turned into a heated debate over culture, legacy, and the ethics of monetizing heritage in the form of NFTs — and as always, McGregor isn’t holding back.