Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov following Lobov's claim that he helped create the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov had previously filed a lawsuit seeking payment for his contribution to the whiskey venture. Media reports indicate McGregor earned over $100 million from selling his stake in Proper Twelve. Both Lobov and McGregor declined to disclose the exact amount of compensation paid, though Lobov had previously claimed he was the one who conceived the entire idea. The settlement resolves the legal dispute between the former training partners.
Conor McGregor has reached a settlement with fellow SBG Ireland fighter Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute over Lobov's claimed role in creating the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand, according to media reports published on April 16, 2026.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable fighters in MMA history, carrying a 22-6-0 professional record and long regarded as a defining figure in the sport's modern era. The southpaw from Ireland built a striking game that produced 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy over his career. Beyond the cage, he built the Proper Twelve whiskey brand into a commercial juggernaut, with media reports indicating he earned more than $100 million when he sold his stake in the venture.
Lobov, 39, is a fellow Irishman and longtime SBG Ireland teammate who compiled a 13-15-1 record across his professional career, fighting as a southpaw at five-foot-nine with a 65-inch reach. He had filed a lawsuit claiming he was the originator of the entire Proper Twelve concept and that his contribution to the brand went uncompensated. Both parties declined to disclose the financial terms of the settlement.
Why it matters
- The resolution closes a legal chapter that had put two longtime training partners in direct conflict
- McGregor's post-fighting business empire, anchored by the Proper Twelve sale, remains one of the largest financial stories in MMA history
- Lobov's claim that he conceived the brand had cast a shadow over the whiskey venture's origin story
- The undisclosed settlement amount leaves the full financial picture incomplete for both parties
