Khabib Drops NFTs, McGregor Fires Back — What the Crypto-Cagefight Means for NFT Hype and Risk

The latest situation involving Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor has created a major stir in both the sports world and the crypto community. Khabib launched a new NFT collection, and McGregor quickly responded with strong public accusations. This isn’t just a celebrity argument, it highlights a deeper issue around NFTs promoted by famous personalities, where excitement, speculation, and community trust often collide.

For anyone thinking about buying celebrity NFTs, this raises an important question: when a famous person sells tokens or digital collectibles, are buyers joining a meaningful community, or simply paying for hype that can disappear just as fast as it appears?

Khabib released a collection of 29,000 digital “papakhas,” which are traditional Dagestani hats. These NFTs were launched on Telegram and brought in about $4.4 million in sales. Khabib described them as “digital gifts” meant to honour Dagestani culture.

McGregor, however, openly challenged the project. He claimed Khabib had used his late father’s name and their cultural traditions to make money, then deleted promotional posts once the sale was finished. McGregor went as far as calling the project a “scam,” saying “Father’s plan has now become father’s scam.” By pointing out the deleted posts, McGregor suggested the project lacked transparency and accused Khabib of taking advantage of 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.”

Khabib responded strongly, calling McGregor an “absolute liar” and a “drug addict,” while defending his NFT launch. He explained that the posts were taken down simply because the auction had ended. Khabib emphasized that the NFTs were meant to celebrate Dagestani culture, not exploit it, and insisted that the project respected cultural traditions. He also suggested that McGregor’s comments were influenced by lingering resentment from their 2018 fight, which Khabib won decisively, and that the accusations were more about generating controversy than raising legitimate concerns about the NFTs.

Interestingly, reports and blockchain researchers noted that McGregor had also attempted a crypto project of his own. In April, he tried to launch a meme coin called “REAL,” but it did not reach its fundraising goal. The project raised only 39% of its $1 million target, and the collected funds were reportedly returned to investors.

The Broader Question: Art/Community vs. Hype

Approach Celebrity-Backed NFTs With Eyes Wide Open

The clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor shows that celebrity-backed NFTs can be exciting but also unpredictable. While star power can drive huge sales and community attention, it also introduces risks tied to trust, transparency, and speculation. Buyers need to carefully evaluate whether an NFT offers real value through art, culture, or community or is mainly driven by hype that can disappear as quickly as it appears.

When considering celebrity NFTs, do you prioritize the community and cultural significance, or do you see these projects as high-risk investments driven by fame and hype?