The complex and turbulent relationship between Artem Lobov and Conor McGregor has taken yet another dramatic turn. Despite a legal resolution earlier this year that seemingly put an end to years of bitter litigation over the multi-million-dollar Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey brand, Lobov has reignited his feud with the former UFC double champion through a blistering series of social media posts.
The latest escalation unfolded on Monday, when Lobov took to the internet to unleash a series of severe allegations against the Irishman. Among the claims, Lobov accused McGregor of orchestrating intimidation tactics against his family and failing to honor financial agreements with his closest inner circle during the height of his combat sports career.
The online tirade began modestly enough, with Lobov replying to a post from UFC on TNT Sports that discussed the significance of McGregor’s next fight being the final bout on his current promotional contract. Weighing in on the matter, Lobov cast doubt on the competitive motivation driving the former champion’s return.
"Last fight happened many years ago, now it’s about supporting the habit," Lobov wrote, adding the caveat, "In my humble opinion, of course."
As is often the case when public figures cross paths with McGregor’s fervent fanbase, Lobov’s comments drew immediate and heavy backlash from supporters of the former champion. Rather than backing down, however, Lobov doubled down on his critique, opening up a much deeper and darker narrative regarding McGregor’s personal conduct, his treatment of longtime teammates, and the alleged influence of substance abuse on his behavior.
In his extended statements, Lobov painted a picture of a once-tightknit camp fractured by broken promises and unfulfilled financial compensation. He claimed that McGregor neglected and mistreated those who stood by him during his ascent to global superstardom.
"He took care of nobody, he fcked over his coach and all his best friends Lee, Derek, Gerry Vegas, Charlie myself and others," Lobov wrote, detailing specific grievances regarding financial arrangements. "Shook hands on different deals that they brought in, money came in but he didn’t pay what was promised. And he got ‘Proper Fcked’ on his whiskey deal that I negotiated and his manager Audie stole from him and me. I showed him unmatched loyalty, I dont say that lightly as a 40-year-old man."
Lobov expanded on his claims by citing specific financial figures and personnel decisions within McGregor’s former camp. He alleged stark disparities between the massive paydays McGregor secured for marquee events, such as his high-profile boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and the compensation received by those who helped him prepare.
"He got 100M for Mayweather what did John get??? 100K if even, meant to be 5 percent but he never paid that for any of his fights," Lobov continued. "He fired his best mate Derek, father of three kids, weeks before Christmas over something Derek said that Conor didn’t like. Paid Lee, the founder and director of [The Mac Life] 500 euros per week before tax for years, agreed to pay Gerry 10K at the start and 10K at the end of the camp, then wouldn’t pay the second 10K. Thats just a few examples."
According to Lobov, these actions were uncharacteristic of the man he once considered a brother, attributing the transformation to personal struggles. He suggested that widespread substance abuse and a lack of personal accountability fundamentally altered McGregor’s character over the years.
"We all used to meet up and wonder why he does that to us and the conclusion we came to is that his drink and drug abuse brings out the worst in him and the sober Conor would never mistreat his brothers like that," Lobov stated. "Conor was my brother, I loved him like one. All the truth and facts will come out. Drink, drugs, and no accountability is what brought all the troubles into his life. All of this allegedly, of course."
The war of words escalated further when Lobov moved past financial and professional disputes to level far more alarming accusations concerning his personal safety and family. Lobov claimed that rather than confronting him directly or visiting the Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin—where Lobov stated he has consistently trained on Tuesdays and Thursdays for years—McGregor resorted to malicious intimidation tactics outside the gym environment.
Accompanying his statements with a screenshot of a past, more cordial direct message exchange between the two former friends, Lobov dropped a bombshell allegation. He claimed that McGregor "sent people to burn my car and threaten my 60-year-old mother with a hammer," while criticizing the former champion for lacking the courage to address their differences directly over the phone.
"I was at SBG every Tuesday and Thursday all these years, didn’t see him anywhere," Lobov wrote. "He went on X, sent people to burn my car and threaten my 60-year-old mother with a hammer, but never had the balls to call my number directly. I am the godfather of always showing up, taught Conor how to be a real fighter. But he calls me out at 4 a.m. haha thats ‘junkie o’clock,’ I was asleep with my kids. Allegedly, of course."
The explosive public airing of grievances stands in stark contrast to the history shared by the two fighters. Long before fame, fortune, and legal battles entered the picture, Lobov and McGregor were among the most visible training partners and loyal allies in the mixed martial arts community. Lobov’s loyalty to McGregor famously extended outside the cage, most notably during the intense rivalry between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That bond was famously highlighted in April 2018 when Lobov was involved in a verbal altercation with Nurmagomedov’s team in Brooklyn ahead of UFC 223. The incident sparked a furious retaliation from McGregor, who flew to New York and infamously threw a hand truck through the window of a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and other fighters—a chaotic moment that permanently altered the landscape of the UFC lightweight division and cemented the duo’s apparent brotherhood at the time.
Reflecting on those years, Lobov expressed a profound sense of loss regarding the relationship, making it clear that the camaraderie they once shared has been entirely eradicated by years of bitterness, legal conflict, and now, these latest incendiary accusations.
"We were brothers and had each others backs no matter what," Lobov wrote. "Trouble with Khabib was over me defending [McGregor’s] honor and not allowing Khabib talk bad about my brother. That Conor is no longer here unfortunately. He was a real man with unmatched skillset in the octagon and a heart of a lion, now he is just a lying junkie. In my opinion, of course. I sure miss my old brother."
The renewed public feud comes just months after the legal chapter between the two appeared to reach a quiet conclusion. This past April, Lobov and McGregor officially settled a high-profile lawsuit filed by Lobov in 2022. In that lawsuit, Lobov asserted that he was instrumental in conceiving the idea for Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey and therefore deserved a significant share of the proceeds when McGregor and his business partners sold the brand for a reported $600 million. While the lawsuit was successfully resolved earlier this year, the specific terms and financial details of the settlement were never publicly disclosed.
Representatives for McGregor have not publicly responded to Lobov’s latest social media statements. As the situation continues to unfold online, it remains to be seen whether the accusations will prompt any further legal action or if the conflict will remain confined to the digital space.
