Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov following a legal dispute over Lobov's claimed contribution to creating Proper Twelve whiskey. Lobov had filed a lawsuit seeking compensation, claiming he helped develop the whiskey brand. Media reports indicated McGregor earned over $100 million from selling his stake in the whiskey company. Both Lobov and McGregor declined to disclose the exact amount of compensation paid in the settlement. Lobov had previously stated publicly that he was instrumental in creating the whiskey concept.
Conor McGregor has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow SBG Ireland teammate Artem Lobov to settle a legal dispute centered on the creation of Proper Twelve Irish whiskey, with the resolution confirmed in April 2026.
Lobov had filed a lawsuit against McGregor, asserting that he played a meaningful role in developing the concept behind the Proper Twelve brand. Lobov had previously stated publicly that he was instrumental in getting the whiskey idea off the ground. Reports indicated McGregor earned more than $100 million when he sold his stake in the company, a figure that formed much of the backdrop to the litigation. Neither party disclosed the specific amount paid in the settlement.
McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history. The Dublin-born fighter carries a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 6 losses and competes as a southpaw out of SBG Ireland. He has posted 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute across his career, with a striking accuracy of 49 percent.
Lobov, 39, is also an Ireland-based southpaw who trains at SBG Ireland and holds a professional record of 13-15-1. The Russian-born fighter, nicknamed The Russian Hammer, lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute at a 41 percent accuracy rate. Though never among the upper tier of UFC ranked fighters, Lobov maintained a long association with McGregor both inside and outside the sport.
Why it matters
- The settlement closes a legal chapter between two longtime teammates and training partners
- McGregor's reported nine-figure payout from the Proper Twelve sale made the dispute a high-stakes business case as much as a personal one
- The outcome underscores the complexities of business arrangements formed within close-knit fight team environments
