Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov, who claimed he was owed money for his role in creating the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov had previously filed a lawsuit seeking compensation after McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million from selling his shares in the whiskey company. Both McGregor and Lobov declined to disclose the exact amount of the settlement. Lobov had previously claimed he was the one who came up with the whiskey concept. The two fighters have now resolved the legal dispute privately.
Conor McGregor has reached a private financial settlement with longtime teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute centered on the origins of McGregor's Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand. The agreement was announced in April 2026, with both men declining to reveal the exact terms.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit against McGregor claiming he was owed compensation for his role in conceiving the Proper Twelve concept. The Irish-based fighter, who trained alongside McGregor at SBG Ireland, alleged that the idea for the whiskey brand originated with him. The legal action came after McGregor reportedly earned in excess of $100 million from the sale of his stake in the company. Lobov, 39, carries a professional MMA record of 13 wins, 15 losses and one draw, and competed as a featherweight and lightweight during his career.
McGregor, 37, built one of combat sport's most recognizable business empires alongside his fighting career. The Dubliner holds a professional record of 22-6-0 and remains among the sport's most prominent figures outside the cage. A southpaw striker landing 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his UFC career, McGregor transformed his global profile into major commercial ventures, with Proper Twelve among the most lucrative.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a public legal dispute between two fighters who shared the same gym and long-standing professional relationship at SBG Ireland.
- Lobov's claim that he originated the Proper Twelve concept had cast a shadow over the brand's founding story at a time when McGregor's business interests face ongoing scrutiny.
- With the matter resolved privately, neither party is obligated to disclose financial terms, leaving the full scope of the compensation undisclosed.
