Conor McGregor turns up for fight with ‘f****’ Artem Lobov after UFC star is sued by ex-pal over Proper 12 whiskey sale
CONOR McGREGOR called out Artem Lobov to a fight in his gym after allegedly being hit with two lawsuits from his former friend.
The ex-UFC champion sold his controlling stake in his Proper 12 whiskey business, alongside two other shareholders, for a combined £500m last year.
Lobov, a long-time friend of McGregor's, alleges he was the brains behind the Irishman's popular drink.
The Russian has now opened court proceedings in Ireland claiming he is entitled to five per cent of the profits from the Proper 12 sale.
McGregor labelled Lobov a "RAT"; in a now-deleted tweet but continued his tirade on social media again, claiming he was being sued for defamation.
He said: “This is a call out to Artem, the f****, fairy pad, Lobov.
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“I’m challenging you to a fight tonight 10:30pm. I’ll meet you down at SBG Concorde and we’ll fight for the whole lot.
"Going through having lawyers message me about defamation and all this suing and all.
“You’re a little blouse, mate. I’ll see you SBG Concord tonight at 10:30pm and I’ll fight you for the whole lot. Answer this f****** call out, you little blouse.”
McGregor, 34, posted a picture online, wearing an Ireland shirt with his face covered, outside his Straight Blast Gym.
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Lobov has remained publicly silent amid the legal proceedings but McGregor once more mocked the retired fighter and his friend Damian Zwolinski.
He posted a picture of the pair with the caption: "Go on the lads! Two little f***** on a rock."
McGregor claimed he is also being sued alongside his dad Tony for defamation against Lobov.
He tweeted: "My da 63 year of age getting lawyer letters off artem omg. You told my da and me that you keep rodents and reptiles as pets.
"Rats and snakes are your thing you said, you relate to them you said to us. Do you not remember? You absolute jackass."
Lobov, who is based in Ireland and hung up his gloves in 2021, previously claimed he turned down £840,000 from McGregor.
McGregor will reportedly contest the lawsuit, which is likely to be worth several million pounds.
I’m challenging you to a fight tonight 10:30 p.m. I’ll meet you down at SBG Concorde and we’ll fight for the whole lot.
Conor McGregor on Artem Lobov
Lobov's solicitor Dermot McNamara told the Irish Independent: "My client is a retired professional fighter with a master’s degree from DCU in Finance and Capital Markets.
"We have issued High Court proceedings on his behalf to enforce an agreement with Mr McGregor regarding the Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand.
"My client was the initial creator and co-founder of the concept to launch an Irish whiskey brand associated with Mr McGregor.
"As these matters are now before the court, we will not be making any further comment."
In response, McGregor's spokesperson claimed suggestions Lobov had a claim to Proper No. Twelve were "incorrect".
Karen Kessler also said: "Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey was created, developed, branded and tirelessly promoted by Conor McGregor."
Lobov, 36, previously told in the summer: "The selling point of my book will be the Proper No. Twelve Whiskey story.
"A few people know, but this was actually my idea. I was the person who came up with the idea to do a whiskey for Conor."
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Lobov alleges McGregor initially suggested establishing his own brand of vodka, before the Russian said an Irish whiskey brand would be a smarter idea.
Proper 12 was launched in 2018 and made revenues of around £820million in its first year.
