Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov following Lobov's claims that he helped create the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov had previously filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for his alleged contribution to the whiskey venture. McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million from selling his shares in Proper Twelve. Neither McGregor nor Lobov disclosed the amount of compensation paid in the settlement. Lobov had previously claimed that he was the one who originally came up with the idea for the whiskey brand.
Conor McGregor has reached a financial settlement with longtime teammate Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute over the origins of McGregor's Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand, it was announced on April 16, 2026.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit against McGregor claiming he played a foundational role in creating Proper Twelve, going so far as to assert that he was the person who originally conceived the idea for the brand. McGregor went on to sell his shares in the venture for a reported sum exceeding $100 million. The terms of the settlement, including the compensation amount paid to Lobov, were not disclosed by either party.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history. The Dubliner carries a 22-6-0 professional record and built a reputation as a ferocious striker, averaging 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate across his UFC career. He competes as a southpaw out of SBG Ireland.
Lobov, 39, is also an SBG Ireland product who shared the same training environment as McGregor during the height of both men's careers. Known as "The Russian Hammer," the Ireland-based fighter holds a professional record of 13-15-1 and averaged 3.52 significant strikes landed per minute at 41 percent accuracy during his own career as a southpaw. The two have been closely associated for years, with Lobov frequently credited as a loyal member of McGregor's inner circle.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a legal chapter that had cast a shadow over one of combat sports' most lucrative business deals.
- Lobov's claim, if substantiated, would have represented a significant reframing of how the Proper Twelve brand came to exist.
- The undisclosed compensation figure leaves questions open about the financial weight McGregor attached to resolving the matter privately.
