Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov, who had demanded payment for his help in creating the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov had previously filed a lawsuit claiming he came up with the idea for the whiskey. McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million from selling his shares in the whiskey company. Both McGregor and Lobov have declined to disclose the amount of the compensation payment, but Lobov is said to be satisfied with the settlement.
Conor McGregor has reached a financial settlement with teammate Artem Lobov, paying compensation to the veteran featherweight after Lobov pursued legal action claiming he played a foundational role in creating the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit asserting that the original idea for the whiskey came from him, arguing he deserved a share of the substantial profits generated by the venture. McGregor reportedly earned in excess of $100 million when he sold his stake in the company. Neither fighter has disclosed the exact sum paid in the settlement, though Lobov is said to be satisfied with the outcome.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognized figures in combat sports history. The Dublin-born southpaw carries a professional MMA record of 22-6-0 and competes out of SBG Ireland. In his prime he was one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate across his career.
Lobov, also 39 and Irish-based, has long been a close associate of McGregor and trains alongside him at SBG Ireland. The Russian-born southpaw holds a professional record of 13-15-1 and competed primarily at featherweight. He averages 3.52 significant strikes per minute and carries a 41 percent striking accuracy rate across his career.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a legal dispute between two longtime teammates and training partners at SBG Ireland
- Lobov's claim centered on the origination of the Proper Twelve brand, which became one of the most commercially successful ventures tied to an active fighter
- The resolution avoids a prolonged court process that could have strained one of MMA's most well-known athlete partnerships
- McGregor's business earnings from Proper Twelve far exceeded what most fighters generate inside the cage
