Conor McGregor pays compensation to Artem Lobov over Proper Twelve whiskey dispute

Conor McGregor has paid an undisclosed sum in compensation to fellow SBG Ireland teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute centered on Lobov's alleged role in creating the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand.

Lobov, a 39-year-old southpaw fighter from Ireland carrying a professional MMA record of 13-15-1, filed a lawsuit claiming he was instrumental in conceiving the whiskey brand that McGregor later launched and built into a major commercial enterprise. Lobov had publicly maintained that the original concept for Proper Twelve originated with him.

McGregor, also 37 and fighting out of SBG Ireland, is one of the most recognizable names in combat sports. The Notorious holds a 22-6-0 professional record and has long operated well beyond the cage as a businessman and brand builder. Media reports cited in the summary indicate he earned in excess of $100 million from selling his shares in the Proper Twelve company, figures that lent significant weight to Lobov's legal claim.

Both parties have declined to reveal the size of the settlement, leaving the financial terms private.

Why it matters

• The settlement closes a high-profile legal dispute between two longtime teammates who both trained under John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland
• McGregor's reported nine-figure return from Proper Twelve made the question of Lobov's contribution financially consequential
• The outcome draws attention to intellectual property and partnership arrangements in athlete-led business ventures
• Lobov, despite a lengthy professional career, never reached the commercial heights of his teammate, making the whiskey brand dispute one of the most significant financial matters of his career