Conor McGregor has reached a settlement with former teammate and sparring partner Artem Lobov, bringing an end to a long-running multi-million euro legal dispute tied to the creation of the Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand.
The case, which was scheduled to begin trial at the High Court in Dublin, was resolved at the last minute following discussions between both parties on Wednesday. While the exact financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, the agreement closes a contentious chapter between two former close allies.
🚨💸 Conor McGregor paid off Artem Lobov following their court dispute over the Proper No. Twelve whiskey company:
Artem Lobov claimed he had a handshake agreement with McGregor in 2017 for 5% of the brand’s sale, saying he helped create it but was later pushed out. McGregor… pic.twitter.com/M1yRUa49cn
Lobov had filed the lawsuit in November 2022, claiming he played a key role in the creation of Proper No. Twelve and was promised a 5 percent stake in the business.
The dispute centered on an alleged verbal agreement made in 2017, in which the 39-year-old Russian said he helped develop the concept, connect with distillers, and lay the groundwork for what would become a massively successful brand.
The former UFC two-division champion, however, denied the existence of any such agreement. McGregor maintained that, while Lobov had limited involvement in early discussions, the final product differed significantly in branding, structure, partnerships, and execution.
The financial stakes were substantial. “The Notorious” and his business partners sold their majority stake in Proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits in 2021 in a deal reportedly worth around $600 million, with McGregor himself believed to have earned approximately $130 million from the sale.
During the legal proceedings, it also emerged that the Irishman had previously offered Lobov an ex gratia payment of $1 million in recognition of his limited contribution, an offer that was ultimately rejected.
As part of the settlement, a brief statement from the 37-year-old Dubliner was read in court:
“I am satisfied that this matter has been resolved and I can focus on my training and this summer’s fight. I want to thank Artem for his hard work for my whiskey business.”
Lobov, who was present in court, later confirmed he was content with the outcome, describing himself as “happy” with the resolution.
Artem Lobov has explained why he believes it’s a good thing that Conor McGregor has decided to withdraw from the Irish presidential race.
Conor McGregor is known for being something of a wildcard, especially across the last few years of his career. Nobody really knows what he’s going to do next, and that’s the kind of energy he seems to enjoy. As we look ahead to the future, it’s unclear as to whether or not he’ll return to the UFC – but one thing he does seem fairly certain is that he’ll continue to pursue his political dreams.
For now, though, Conor McGregor will not be running for President of Ireland after withdrawing from the race, which is something that a lot of experts had anticipated would happen. In a recent interview, the aforementioned Artem Lobov gave his thoughts on the whole situation.
Artem Lobov on Conor McGregor withdrawing from presidential race
“Running for president is something that we have spoken [about] all the way back [in the past],” Lobov told MMA Fighting. “One of the reasons for even for me to arrange a meeting with [Russian president] Vladimir Putin for Conor, that all had those kind of future aspirations. Running for president, you want to establish some contacts in the political world and obviously Vladimir Putin is one of the main figures in politics worldwide. We always spoke about that.”
“This time around, I support the decision to withdraw because I don’t think Conor is in the right space right now,” Lobov explained. “Not in the right mindset to run for president. He has to get his ducks in a row first. We saw he pulled out of a press conference. That’s not Conor. I know Conor that showed up to fight for the interim belt with no legs. Both of his ligaments were torn in both of the knees, he was completely unable to walk and still showed up.
“That’s the Conor I know. That’s the Conor that people believe would make a good president. I agree. That Conor for sure would make a great president and would address all the issues that need to be addressed right now in Ireland.”
Former UFC fighter Artem Lobov has explained why he’s opted to come out of retirement for his upcoming PFL fight against Zubaira Tukhugov.
Throughout the course of his career, Artem Lobov has largely been known for his association with Conor McGregor. Of course, that’s a friendship that has collapsed in the last few years, but that doesn’t stop Artem from remembering what went down between Conor’s team and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team back in the day.
Between Khabib and his teammates trying to intimidate Artem Lobov to the post-UFC 229 brawl that occured, Artem and Tukhugov have quite a history together – which is probably one of the reasons why this fight was booked in the first place.
In a recent interview, Artem Lobov spoke candidly about what he’s decided to make his mixed martial arts return at PFL Champions Series 2.
Artem Lobov talks end of his MMA retirement
“I said it when I was retiring that look, this I’m retiring, but this fight here has to happen. You know, it’s very personal and I have to I have to take that off, you know, I have to close that chapter otherwise it’s always going to be in the back of my mind, you know, and I’m always going to be thinking about it. So I want to get in and get it done.
“So, I’m not sure if you can call this a comeback or what this is, but it’s just something that I knew I was going to do. I said I was going to do it. It was always in the back of my mind.”
Conor McGregor in the prime of his career was a true phenomenon and a former compatriot of ‘The Notorious’ thinks that version of McGregor can put out the lights of reigning UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria. This was a sentiment recently expressed by Artem Lobov during an interview with Jordan Ellis for Bloody Elbow.
‘The Russian Hammer’ covered several subjects during that chat ahead of his return to combat sports after over four years as Lobov will finally clash with long time rival Zubaira Tukhugov at PFL Champions Series 2 on October 3rd in a catchweight contest at 165 lbs. Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov had a publically documented fall out with each other but the latter does still hold the former’s fighting ability in high regard.
When touching on how a hypothetical mega fight would play out between the pair of fighters who’ve both held UFC gold at featherweight as well as lightweight, Lobov said,
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m a massive fan of Ilia. You know, his style is incredible. You know, he’s incredible striking, very ballsy, you know, he fights aggressively, you know, comes in fearless, you know, good wrestling. It’s; I put him up very, very high up there. I still do think, if I’m really honest, I might be a little bit biased. But I do think that in their prime, Conor still, I think, edges it, you know.”
“He was just honestly; just watching Conor like in his prime was incredible. Just untouchable, you know, and I watched him in trainings, you know. I annihilate and annihilate, you know, like five guys in a row one by one, you know. They all coming in fresh, including me and him not even breathing heavy. Like he was just a killer, you know.”
Conor McGregor could have beat Topuria as well as Mayweather and Nurmagomedov
Further expressing how pedigreed of a pugilist he felt that Conor McGregor was during his prime in the UFC, Lobov continued,
“So for me, as I said, I’m probably biased, but for me, it’s hard to imagine anyone doing anything to that corner, you know. I feel that Conor could have beat everyone that; that’s, you know, for me. He could have beat even [Floyd] Mayweather and Khabib [Nurmagomedov], you know, that corner. But Ilia is probably a very close second to me.”
“Right behind Conor, right behind top level Conor, you know. But right now Ilia is the best. There’s there’s no question about it. He’s the number one guy now. Yeah, he’s so dominant and so exciting to watch and yeah, I love watching his fights.”
Artem Lobov claims he is owed money by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship but based on some uncertainties with reported pay-per-view numbers, he concedes that the amount he is owed could vary around that. The former UFC combatant spoke about this during a recent interview with Jordan Ellis of Bloody Elbow.
Lobov is targeting a return to combat sports after over four years on the sidelines when he makes his official PFL debut against long time rival Zubaira Tukhugov at PFL Champions Series 2 on October 3rd. In June 2019, Lobov defeated Paulie Malignaggi at BKFC 6 in what was one of the most influential fights in the nascent days of the company but some confusion regarding the PPV buy rates from that show have ‘The Russian Hammer’ usnure on some financial particulars.
Artem Lobov unsure of what Feldman is denying, knows BKFC owes him a certain cut of whatevever the cumulative PPV buy rate was
When asked in a prior interview on The Ariel Helwani Show a few weeks ago, Lobov was asked if a BKFC return was possible and the former Conor McGregor training partner did not totally put the kibosh on it but claimed the gloveless promotion owed him some money.
Some prior claims positioned BKFC 6 at 200K pay-per-view buys but David Feldman has also disputed that figure at times. During the aforementioned Bloody Elbow interview that he has done in more recent times, Artem Lobov said,
“I don’t understand what he was denying because he knows he owes me money. He’s saying denying that, oh, it wasn’t 200,000 pay-per-view sold, but this is simply what he announced. You know, he announced and somebody actually pulled up an article there under the tweet of Ariel Helwani and and Feldman talking about this.”
“Someone pulled up an article where David Feldman announced 200,000 pay-per-views sold. Like, he’s never provided me with the real numbers. So, I can only go off by what he reported to the media, you know, worldwide. So, that’s where I got this number. Now, fair enough. If he’s saying it was around 100,000 pay-per-view sold, okay, no problem. In that case, he owed me about $75,000, you know.”
Mixed martial arts figures Artem Lobov and Conor McGregor, once close training partners and public allies, are now entrenched in a high-stakes legal dispute over the lucrative Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey brand. Lobov has filed a lawsuit against McGregor in Ireland’s High Court, claiming he played a foundational role in conceiving and launching the whiskey, and that he is owed a 5% share of proceeds from the company’s eventual multi-million dollar sale.
Conor McGregor Being Sued By Artem Lobov
Lobov alleges that in 2016 or 2017, he and McGregor reached a handshake agreement in which Conor McGregor promised him a 5% stake in the business, equivalent to a multi-million dollar payout based on subsequent company valuations. Lobov contends he originated the idea to pivot McGregor’s planned spirits venture from an Icelandic vodka to an Irish whiskey, leveraging his own market research and knowledge of the sector. According to Lobov, his negotiations secured a favorable deal with the distillery and ensured McGregor would have full ownership of the business from the outset, without financial investment.
In his statements, Lobov has produced what he claims are WhatsApp message records and other evidence to support his contention that he was instrumental at every stage, from conceptualization to brand development. Lobov further asserts he declined remuneration for years of training with McGregor, emphasizing loyalty and prior unpaid contributions.
Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey
The financial context for the lawsuit is significant. Proper No. Twelve, founded in 2018, quickly rose to become one of the fastest-growing Irish whiskey brands in the United States, with annual sales reportedly in excess of 330,000 cases domestically. Lobov has cited independent market data indicating the brand generates around $120 million in yearly U.S. sales and may be valued as high as $2 billion, ranking second in the nation’s Irish whiskey market behind Jameson. In 2021, McGregor and his business partners sold their controlling stake to Proximo Spirits for approximately $600 million. Lobov seeks $7.5 million – a figure he says reflects his purported five-percent ownership stake from the business’s high-water valuations.
🤯 🥃 Artem Lobov says McGregor’s Proper Twelve whiskey is valued at up to $2 billion and generates around $120 million per year in the U.S. alone — making it the second best-selling whiskey in America after Jameson.
McGregor, through counsel and public statements, has denied that Lobov has any rightful financial claim or entitlement to a share of Proper No. Twelve. His legal team characterizes the creation and commercial development of the whiskey as solely McGregor’s work, with no official written partnership or binding obligation to Lobov. McGregor’s representatives have stated that any suggestion that Lobov is owed part of the proceeds is incorrect, and that McGregor’s role as the founder and public face of the brand is undisputed.
Court proceedings remain ongoing. The High Court has ordered McGregor to disclose records of his financial gains from the whiskey sale as part of discovery. Lobov, in interviews, has indicated he provided evidence of his involvement to McGregor in attempts to resolve the dispute privately, but contends that McGregor rebuffed these efforts and offered him a one-time payment of $1 million – an offer Lobov declined, seeking recognition as a co-founder instead.
As of August 2025, the case has not gone to full trial. Additional filings and cost orders have been reported, but the outcome remains pending.
Artem Lobov and Conor McGregor shared a close personal and professional bond for years, both as training partners and friends. They first connected in the mixed martial arts community, training together under John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland, where Lobov often cornered and supported McGregor during major fights. Their relationship extended beyond the gym, with Lobov frequently appearing alongside McGregor at events and in media.
Conor McGregor has been frequently involved in headline-grabbing controversies extending beyond the fighting arena. In November 2024, a civil jury in Dublin found McGregor liable for sexually assaulting a woman named Nikita Hand at a hotel in 2018, resulting in an order for him to pay over €248,000 in damage.
Separately, McGregor publicly admitted in 2025 to infidelity in his long-term relationship with Dee Devlin, acknowledging “mistakes” and expressing regret for stepping out on his fiancée, particularly in the context of the civil rape case’s fallout. He has also faced new cheating allegations after photos surfaced showing him with another woman in Florida.
Beyond legal and relationship controversies, McGregor’s behavior has sparked additional criticism. In June 2025, a video emerged of him repeatedly punching a partygoer in Ibiza’s Pacha nightclub. Witnesses described the altercation as unprovoked, and while the victim was reportedly unharmed, Spanish police did not pursue an investigation.
Additionally, Conor McGregor has been named in harassment claims by public figures, such as rapper Azealia Banks, who accused him of sending unsolicited and explicit photos and threatening messages via social media.
Last night, Gunnar Nelson picked up another victory when he defeated Takashi Sato at UFC London. Coincidentally, nearly five years exactly to the day, Nelson picked up another win at a UFC London event over Alan Jouban. According to Artem Lobov, one person who should have been taking careful notes of his performance was none other than Tyron Woodley.
The following article was published on this day five years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Five Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 20, 2017, 11:20 AM]
Tyron Woodley has not held back when discussing what he perceives to be unfair treatment by the UFC due to his ethnicity.
One fighter on the UFC’s roster who has taken the welterweight champion of the world’s words the wrong way, it would seem, is SBG Ireland’s Artem “The Russian Hammer” Lobov. The friend and training partner of UFC lightweight champion of the world Conor McGregor is similarly not a man afraid to speak his mind.
Following Lobov’s SBG teammate Gunnar Nelson’s exploits on Saturday’s Fight Night London, the featherweight (who will next fight #4 ranked Cub Swanson) took to Twitter to offer Woodley some advice when it comes to handling yourself as a professional fighter. The method for Tyron Woodley, according to Artem Lobov? To be more like Nelson:
Hey @TWoodley this is how you promote yourself, not by crying and moaning like a little bitch”.
Lobov will have an opportunity to announce himself to the UFC’s upper tiers when he squares off against fan-favorite Cub Swanson on the headline fight of UFC Fight Night 108 in Nashville this April 22.
Check out MMANews.com’s exclusive interview with Tyron Woodley here.
Former UFC featherweight and Bare Knuckle FC star Artem Lobov has admitted there are two scenarios that could draw him out of retirement.
Over the course of his 11-year career in professional combat sports, Lobov became one of the most popular and recognizable names. Whether through his fighting style, appearance on The Ultimate Fighter, or connection to Conor McGregor and the SBC Ireland team, every fan knows “The Russian Hammer.”
After leaving mixed martial arts with a 13-15-1 record, a résumé that includes two UFC victories, following his defeat to Michael Johnson in 2018, Lobov turned his attention to bare-knuckle boxing.
But after back-to-back losses to Knight and Denys Berinchyk, the latter of which took place under the promotional banner of Mahatch FC, Lobov took a realistic look at his career, aspirations, and responsibilities. He decided to call time on his career last July, a week after his final appearance in combat sports.
After the announcement, many in the community reflected on Lobov’s memorable career as they bid farewell to a combat sports mainstay. While the 35-year-old doesn’t see himself breaking his promise to himself and darting in and out of retirement, he has provided some hope for fans who wish to see him back in action.
During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lobov laid out two scenarios that would clench his fists and bring him back to the cage or ring. As unlikely as they seem, the answer will certainly instil some hope into the hearts of his loyal fanbase.
“I gave myself a promise, ‘Artem, you will not go back in there, no matter what. Fucking make it elsewhere now, it doesn’t matter what happens, it doesn’t matter how much you want to go back in there. Do not go back in there.’
“There’s only two ways that I go back to fighting; the (Zubaira) Tukhugov fight, that goes without retirement, I don’t care If I am retired or not, I always want that fight, no matter what,” Lobov continued. “And, if somebody wants to make my dreams come true and offer me seven figures, well then it’s going to change things up… seven figures could allow you to set up your financial future for the family, and that’s a big thing for me, of course. And open up a lot of doors as well. I would consider coming back for those reasons.”
Confirmed that the Lobov vs. Tukhugov fight in Moncton later this month has been canceled. UFC looking for a new opponent for Lobov. Tukhugov’s status is uncertain. https://t.co/KME9IC24jG
Lobov and Tukhugov were set to collide back at UFC Fight Night 138 in October 2018. The clash would have extended the fiery rivalry between Khabib Nurmagoemdov’s camp and that of Conor McGregor.
Artem Lobov recently retired from combat sports, but he’s still receiving big offers.
After Lobov suffered a TKO loss to Denys Berinchyk in a bare-knuckle fight, the fan-favorite announced his retirement from combat sports. Although Lobov didn’t have the best record, he always looked to fight the best fighters around and always put on entertaining fights.
With that, even though he is retired, Lobov says he is still getting big offers to fight and end his retirement, but he isn’t interested in doing that.
“I still have offers. There are still offers in my inbox. And actually, I’ve got some of the better offers since I retired,” Lobov said on The MMA Hour. “I couldn’t even believe it. Some offers were coming up to like, nearly half a million, some of the offers I’ve been getting. I’ve got some sh*t offers as well, but I’ve got a lot of offers. But I gave myself a promise, ‘Artem, you will not go back in there, no matter what.’
Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“Very difficult (to say no to them). The thing as well, all this has been like, with some YouTubers, you know, in Russia, I’ve had an offer from Poland as well, to box a YouTuber there,” Lobov continued. “So it’s kind of like, I used to fight really tough guys for 100 euros, 500 euros, now I’m getting offered to box exhibition bouts against guys that aren’t even that good, and I have to turn it down. But I have to be like, ‘Are you a man of your word, or are you not a man of your word?’ That’s what I ask myself.”
Artem Lobov ends his career with a professional MMA record of 13-15-1 and one No Contest along with a bare-knuckle record of 2-2. He also went 2-6 inside the Octagon but headlined a Fight Night card, thus showing his star power. In his career, he did beat Paulie Malignaggi in BKFC and holds decision wins over Chris Avila and Teruto Ishihara inside the Octagon.
