The rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is alive and well in 2025. This time, it centers not on a fight but on digital collectibles and accusations of scamming fans.
Nurmagomedov launched an exclusive Telegram-based auction of digital papakhas on November 22, 2025. The papakha is a traditional sheepskin hat worn by men throughout Dagestan and the Caucasus region. Khabib made the hat famous during his UFC career, wearing it into the octagon as a symbol of his heritage.
The auction sold 29,000 digital papakhas over approximately 24 hours through 290 short bidding rounds of five minutes each.