Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov, who had demanded payment for his help in creating Proper Twelve whiskey. Lobov had even filed a lawsuit over the matter. Media reports indicate McGregor earned over $100 million from selling his shares in the whiskey brand. Both Lobov and McGregor have refused to disclose the amount of compensation paid. Lobov had previously claimed he was the one who came up with the entire concept for the whiskey.
Conor McGregor has paid a financial settlement to longtime teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a dispute over the origins of the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand, according to media reports published on April 16, 2026.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit against McGregor, claiming he was the originator of the concept behind Proper Twelve and that he deserved compensation for his role in building the brand. McGregor reportedly earned more than $100 million when he sold his shares in the whiskey company. The settlement has now been reached, though neither fighter has disclosed the amount paid.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most prominent figures in MMA history. The Dubliner holds a professional record of 22-6 and competes as a southpaw with a 74-inch reach — notably longer than most fighters at his height of five feet nine. He lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect the elite-level striking that made him a two-division UFC champion and a global combat sports star.
Lobov, also 39 and Irish-based, has long trained alongside McGregor at SBG Ireland. The Russian-born southpaw carries a professional record of 13-15-1 and built his reputation as a durable, entertaining fighter rather than a title contender. He lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute and has a 41 percent striking accuracy across his career.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a legal dispute that placed two longtime SBG teammates in direct conflict
- McGregor's reported $100 million-plus windfall from the whiskey sale underscores the commercial empire he built around his fighting career
- The undisclosed compensation figure leaves open questions about whether Lobov's contribution has been fully acknowledged
