Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov, who claimed he helped create the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov previously filed a lawsuit seeking payment for his alleged contributions to the whiskey venture. McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million from selling his stake in the brand. Both parties declined to disclose the amount of the settlement. Lobov had previously claimed he was the one who came up with the concept for the whiskey business.
Conor McGregor has reached a financial settlement with longtime teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute centered on Lobov's claimed role in creating the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand, with the agreement confirmed as of April 16, 2026.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit alleging he was instrumental in conceiving the whiskey venture and deserved compensation for those contributions. McGregor, who reportedly earned more than $100 million when he sold his stake in Proper Twelve, ultimately agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to settle the matter. Neither side revealed the terms of the agreement.
McGregor, 37, is one of combat sports' most recognizable figures. The Dublin-born southpaw carries a professional MMA record of 22-6-0 and built his fighting reputation on sharp, high-volume striking, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate across his career at SBG Ireland.
Lobov, 39, is a fellow SBG Ireland product and a close associate of McGregor dating back many years. The Russian-born, Ireland-based fighter holds a professional record of 13-15-1 and competed as a featherweight, averaging 3.52 significant strikes landed per minute with a striking accuracy of 41 percent. He has long been regarded as a central figure within McGregor's inner circle, and it was that proximity to the Proper Twelve project that formed the basis of his legal claim.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a public and potentially damaging dispute between two fighters who have been close allies throughout their careers.
- Lobov's claim, that he conceived the idea behind Proper Twelve, put the origins of one of MMA's most lucrative business ventures under legal scrutiny.
- With McGregor's reported $100 million-plus windfall from the brand's sale, the case highlighted the financial stakes attached to fighter-led business ventures beyond the octagon.
