Khabib Nurmagomedov has fired back at Conor McGregor as the two continue their long-standing UFC feud.
After a fiery build-up which included an attack on a UFC bus from McGregor and his pals after Khabib's confrontation with his former teammate Artem Lobov, the two locked horns at UFC 229 in a record-setting main event which had 2.4 million buyrates.
The Dagestani fighter, who retired undefeated in 2020, submitted McGregor in the fourth round with a neck crank before a wild brawl ensued afterwards involving members of both camps - leading to fines and suspensions.
The pair never patched things up, with Khabib feeling as though McGregor had crossed the line with his many insults towards his family and religion.
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Seven years on from the controversy, Khabib and McGregor have been going at it on social media after the former two-weight UFC champion responded to 'The Eagle' and his recent activity online.
Khabib, who coaches Islam Makhachev, has been using Telegram and selling digital versions of Papakhas - the fur hat which he regularly sported at weigh-ins and in his entrance to the Octagon as a nod to the culture of Dagestan.
Announcing a sell-out on X, Khabib wrote: "The auction has ended and all Papakha’s been sold!
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"Appreciate everyone who participated in it, and become a holder of this great and exclusive digital gift, gift with value, that you can share with your friends and loved ones.
"Thank you for trust! Only on Telegram".
Though he claimed to recently undergo an expensive psychedelic medical treatment which "showed him death" and saw him re-connected with Jesus, McGregor could not resist a response.
The Notorious, who recently returned to social media after a break, accused Khabib of cashing in on the death of his late father Abdulmanap and "robbing" his fans.
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In his first deleted tweet, he claimed: “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 guys do this. What a shame and a stain on his father’s name.“
He continued: “To scam fans using his father and his countries [sic] culture is just so low,”
“Father’s plan has now become Father’s scam. Very sad. On the opposite side of this, it was great to see Islam Mack honor his own father by putting the double world titles on his shoulders and saying ‘there is not many fathers of double world champions!’ Truth.”
Khabib brands McGregor a "liar"
It didn't take Khabib long to hit back by calling McGregor a "liar". However, after bringing up their UFC fight, he again promoted the "exclusive digital gifts".
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“You absolute liar,“ Nurmagomedov said.
”You will always try to darken my name, after you got destroyed that night, but you will never achieve that! Yes, good guys don’t do that. They don’t create exclusive digital gifts with real time value, that you can share with your friends and family. Gifts in the shape of Papakha — hat that symbolize traditions and culture of Dagestan people. Traditions and culture that slowly walking over this world, whether you like it or not!“
McGregor was never likely to let up and replied to his bitter rival, demanding an apology for what believes is a case of "scamming" and branding him a "dumbass".
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He fumed: "Apologise this instant for using your late father’s name to sell these “gifts” that cost your fans so much of their money. Also to sell something means it is not a gift you low iq troglodyte!
"That is the direct opposite of what “gift” means. Duh duh duh dumbass hahaha Scamming on your dead daddy’s name. Shame."
Khabib didn't feel his work was done and proceeded to produce a post of his, referencing McGregor's recent treatment revelation and inviting him to one of his "rehabilitation centers" in Dagestan where they will "take care" of him.
"My count is 56 former drug addicts, at my rehabilitation centers in Dagestan, that I treated," he wrote.
"Come to Dagestan @TheNotoriousMMA they'll take care of you here. Mexico didn't help you, as far as I can see."
McGreg's claims did not stop, however. He called Khabib a "tax dodging scammer" and then a "traitor" to his country for spending time in Dubai.
He vented: "And who will I be meeting there because it wont be you lol You can’t scam me with your lies. You tax dodging scammer on the run. Your poor family, I pray. I pray for your constant lies.
"I pray I pray I pray. While you lie. You should just be honest because Allah knows all. #FathersScam #UsingDagestanCultureToSellNFT #UsingYourFathersNameToSellNFT #AllWhileLivingInDubai #KhabibTraitorToCountry."
Having been away from the Octagon since 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier, McGregor is currently serving a suspension from UFC for violating anti-doping rules and will be free to return to action in March 2026.
He has regularly expressed interest in fighting on the planned White House card next year.
Topics: UFC, Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov
Josh Lawless