McGregor Reopens Old Wounds with Khabib Accusations
After a short break from social media, Conor McGregor has returned with a fiery post targeting his long-standing rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, accusing the retired fighter of scamming his fans. This latest outburst has convinced many UFC followers that the Russian champion continues to occupy a significant amount of real estate in the Irishman's mind, completely 'rent free'.
The animosity between these two titans of the UFC stretches back nine years, originating from a call-out by Nurmagomedov in 2016. Their fierce rivalry culminated in the infamous UFC 229 bout in 2018, where Nurmagomedov forced McGregor to submit in the fourth round, successfully defending his lightweight title.
The NFT Controversy That Fueled the Fire
McGregor's recent attack, posted on X, zeroed in on Nurmagomedov's sale of digital papakhas – traditional Dagestani hats – as NFTs. The Dublin native expressed disbelief, questioning whether 'good guy Khabib' would use his late father's name and Dagestani culture to sell these digital items only to delete all related content after the sale, leaving purchasers empty-handed.
'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 NFT’s online and then delete all of the content after they were sold, leaving his fans robbed of their money?' McGregor wrote.
This post came shortly after Nurmagomedov himself removed all traces of the digital papakha sale from his social media, a move that had already raised eyebrows within the MMA community.
Fans React and Rivals Clash Online
The response from the online community was swift and largely critical of McGregor. Many fans interpreted his post as proof that he remains psychologically affected by his defeat and his former opponent.
One user commented, 'Brother khabib has been living in your head for 7 years rent free, PTSD at it’s finest.' Another echoed the sentiment, writing, 'Damn! 7 years and Khabib still lives rent free in your head.' Other replies were more blunt, with one stating simply, 'He beat the f*** outta you,' and another claiming, 'He took your soul on that fight night and you were never the same.'
Nurmagomedov did not take the accusations lying down. He fired back, labelling McGregor an 'absolute liar' and defending the sale. He described the papakhas as exclusive digital gifts with real value that honoured the traditions and culture of Dagestan, sold exclusively on the Telegram platform.
In a separate post, the 'Eagle' announced the conclusion of the auction, thanking participants. However, McGregor remained unconvinced, demanding an immediate apology and mocking his rival's understanding of the word 'gift'.
'Apologise this instant for using your late father’s name to sell these “gifts” that cost your fans so much of their money,' McGregor retorted. 'Also to sell something means it is not a gift you low iq troglodyte! That is the direct opposite of what “gift” means.'
A Glimpse into McGregor's Personal Journey
This social media spat occurred shortly after McGregor's return from a hiatus during which he underwent intense therapy. The 37-year-old revealed he travelled to Tijuana, Mexico for Ibogaine treatment, a psychedelic therapy used to combat addiction.
He described the experience at the AMBIO clinic as 'incredible, intense, and absolutely eye opening', claiming he was shown a vision of his own death and its impact on his children. McGregor stated that the treatment, which he endorsed as being 'worth its weight in GOLD', ultimately saved his life and, in turn, his family.
Despite this profound personal revelation, his immediate return to a very public and bitter feud suggests that some rivalries, even years after the final bell, are far from over.
