Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov related to the creation of Proper Twelve whiskey. Lobov had claimed he helped create the brand and even filed a lawsuit seeking payment. McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million from selling his shares in the whiskey company. Both parties have declined to disclose the specific amount of compensation paid in the settlement. Lobov had previously claimed he was the one who came up with the concept for the whiskey brand.
Conor McGregor has reached a financial settlement with longtime teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a compensation dispute tied to the creation of Proper Twelve Irish whiskey, with the agreement confirmed as of April 16, 2026.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history. The Dubliner carries a professional MMA record of 22-6-0 and competes out of SBG Ireland. He built his fighting reputation as a southpaw striker, averaging 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate. Outside the cage, McGregor launched Proper Twelve whiskey and later sold his stake in the brand for a reported sum exceeding $100 million, transforming him into one of the wealthiest athletes to emerge from the sport.
Lobov, 39, is a fellow SBG Ireland product and a close associate of McGregor going back years. The Russian-born, Ireland-based fighter holds a professional record of 13-15-1 and competed as a southpaw with a five-foot-nine frame and a 65-inch reach. He had publicly claimed he was the originator of the concept behind Proper Twelve and pursued legal action seeking financial recognition for that role.
Why it matters
- Lobov filed a formal lawsuit asserting he helped conceive the whiskey brand, making this a rare legal dispute between two fighters from the same gym
- McGregor's reported $100 million payday from selling his shares underscored the scale of what Lobov argued he was owed a portion of
- Neither party disclosed the settlement amount, leaving the financial terms of the resolution private
The settlement closes a legal chapter between two teammates whose association predates both fighters' UFC careers, though the undisclosed terms mean the full picture of what Lobov ultimately received remains unknown.
