Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov following a legal dispute over Lobov's claimed contributions to creating Proper Twelve whiskey. Lobov had filed a lawsuit seeking compensation, asserting he helped develop the whiskey brand. Media reports indicate McGregor earned over $100 million from selling his shares in Proper Twelve. Both McGregor and Lobov declined to disclose the settlement amount. Lobov had previously claimed he was instrumental in creating the whiskey concept. The resolution brings closure to the legal battle between the former training partners over the lucrative spirits venture.
Conor McGregor has reached a financial settlement with fellow SBG Ireland fighter Artem Lobov, resolving a legal dispute over Lobov's claimed role in creating the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand, according to media reports published April 16, 2026.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit contending he was instrumental in developing the concept behind Proper Twelve, the whiskey label McGregor turned into a highly lucrative venture. Reports indicate McGregor earned in excess of $100 million from the eventual sale of his stake in the brand. Neither party disclosed the terms or value of the settlement, bringing a close to what had become a public and uncomfortable legal conflict between two longtime training partners.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history. The Irish southpaw holds a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 6 losses and built his reputation as a two-weight UFC champion. He averages 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute with a 49 percent striking accuracy, numbers that underline the aggressive, high-output style that made him a global star.
Lobov, also 39 and Irish-based, carries a professional record of 13 wins, 15 losses, and one draw. Known as The Russian Hammer, the southpaw striker competes at 175 centimeters tall with a 165-centimeter reach and lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute. Like McGregor, he trains out of SBG Ireland and built much of his career profile during the same period the two worked closely together.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a legal chapter that drew attention to the financial rewards generated outside the cage by top MMA figures
- Lobov's claim raised questions about the origins of one of combat sports' most profitable brand deals
- The resolution preserves some finality for McGregor's Proper Twelve business legacy without a public courtroom verdict
