UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has successfully resolved a lengthy legal battle that began over two years ago. He reached a settlement in his $1.8 million lawsuit against California-based gaming company Legionfarm. The case, which centered around a failed NFT collaboration, concluded with an unexpected public apology from the defendant.
The legal dispute originated in December 2021, when Khabib entered into an agreement with Legionfarm. It is a platform connecting gamers with professional players and influencers. The contract called for the creation and sale of Khabib-themed NFTs, with Legionfarm committing to pay the retired champion at least $3 million in exchange for using his likeness and promotional efforts.
Initially, both parties appeared committed to the partnership. Nurmagomedov fulfilled his contractual obligations by participating in gaming tournaments and creating social media content to promote the collaboration. However, the relationship began to deteriorate by mid-2022 when Legionfarm started withdrawing from the project entirely.
According to court documents filed by Nurmagomedov’s legal team, the company’s decision to abandon the partnership was influenced by external political circumstances, particularly the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite being a Russian citizen from Dagestan, Nurmagomedov continued to honor his commitments under the agreement.
Legionfarm, however, ceased making payments and distanced itself from the project without formally terminating the contract. This left Nurmagomedov in a precarious position—underpaid and associated with an unsupported venture that reflected poorly on his professional reputation.
After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter informally throughout 2023, Nurmagomedov filed a breach of contract lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, seeking $1.8 million in damages. Legionfarm responded with a countersuit, but as the case progressed under Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald, evidence increasingly supported Nurmagomedov’s position.
Rather than continuing the protracted legal battle, both parties recently agreed to settle out of court. Additionally, Legionfarm issued a public statement accepting full responsibility for the failed partnership.
In a post on social media platform X, the company and its representative Alexey Belyankin made an unequivocal admission of fault: “Legionfarm and Alexey Belyankin unequivocally apologize to Khabib Nurmagomedov for Legionfarm’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations.”
The statement went further, acknowledging that while Nurmagomedov had the legal grounds to continue pursuing the lawsuit, he chose to seek a peaceful resolution. The company praised the former champion’s character throughout the ordeal: “We cannot thank Khabib and his team enough for their honesty, integrity, and kindness. Khabib was a model business partner, and Legionfarm’s failure to fulfill its commitments was Legionfarm’s fault alone.”
This public acknowledgment represents an unusual conclusion to a corporate legal dispute. Rarely do companies issue such comprehensive apologies while accepting complete responsibility for contractual failures.
