Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov following a legal dispute over Lobov's claimed contribution to the creation of Proper Twelve whiskey. Lobov had filed a lawsuit seeking payment for his alleged role in helping develop the brand. According to media reports, McGregor earned over $100 million from selling his stake in the whiskey company. Both McGregor and Lobov have declined to disclose the amount of the settlement. Lobov had previously claimed he was instrumental in creating the whiskey concept.
Conor McGregor has reached a financial settlement with longtime teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute centered on Lobov's claimed contribution to the creation of Proper Twelve Irish whiskey, according to media reports published in April 2026.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history. The Dublin-born fighter carries a professional MMA record of 22-6-0 and competes out of SBG Ireland. He is a former two-weight UFC champion and has been widely reported to have earned in excess of $100 million from the sale of his stake in Proper Twelve, the whiskey brand he launched in 2018. Inside the cage, McGregor is among the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 5.32 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate.
Lobov, 39, is a fellow SBG Ireland product who trained alongside McGregor throughout much of his career. Fighting out of a southpaw stance and standing five-foot-nine with a 65-inch reach, he holds a professional record of 13-15-1. Lobov had filed a lawsuit alleging he played an instrumental role in conceiving the Proper Twelve brand and that he was owed compensation for that contribution.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed by either party.
Why it matters
- The dispute puts a spotlight on the business dealings that surround high-profile fighters beyond their careers in competition.
- McGregor's reported $100 million windfall from Proper Twelve underscores how fighter-founded brands can generate wealth far exceeding fight purses.
- The resolution closes a public legal chapter between two fighters who shared the same gym for years, with potential implications for how collaborative contributions to athlete-led ventures are documented and compensated going forward.
