Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov following a legal dispute over the creation of Proper Twelve whiskey. Lobov had previously demanded compensation for his role in helping create the whiskey brand and even filed a lawsuit. Media reports indicated that McGregor earned over $100 million from selling his shares in Proper Twelve. Both Lobov and McGregor have declined to disclose the exact amount of compensation paid. Lobov had previously claimed he was the one who came up with the idea for the whiskey brand.
A legal dispute between Conor McGregor and his longtime teammate Artem Lobov over the origins of the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand has been resolved, with McGregor paying Lobov an undisclosed sum in compensation, according to reports published on April 16, 2026.
Lobov, 39, had claimed he was the original architect of the Proper Twelve concept and filed a lawsuit demanding a share of the profits. His grievance gained significant weight given media reports that McGregor earned more than $100 million from the eventual sale of his stake in the brand. The Irish-based featherweight, who fights out of SBG Ireland and carries a professional MMA record of 13-15-1, had been a close training partner and friend of McGregor for years before the dispute became public.
McGregor, also 37 and representing Ireland out of SBG Ireland, built Proper Twelve into one of the most commercially successful celebrity spirit brands in recent memory before cashing out. The southpaw fighter holds a 22-6-0 professional record and remains one of the most recognizable names in combat sports history, with career output of 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute and 49 percent striking accuracy reflecting his aggressive, high-volume style inside the octagon.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a high-profile legal dispute between two long-standing SBG Ireland teammates
- Lobov's claim centered on intellectual credit for a brand that generated over $100 million for McGregor
- Neither party has disclosed the compensation amount, leaving the full financial terms private
- The resolution removes one potential obstacle should either fighter pursue future business or competitive collaborations
