Conor McGregor brands Russian teammate a ‘rat’ as whiskey dispute heats up

MMA legend's friendship with Artem Lobov is on the rocks

UFC star Conor McGregor has launched an astonishing attack on his longtime friend and training partner Artem Lobov after the retired Russian fighter filed a lawsuit for royalty payments he claims he is owed from McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand.

Lobov claimed in a legal filing in recent days that he was the impetus for McGregor’s foray into the whiskey market and that he conducted extensive research to source brand ideas and potential partners for the whiskey which has found significant success in the marketplace since its launch in 2018.

“My client is a retired professional fighter with a master’s degree from [Dublin City University] in Finance and Capital Markets,” Lobov's solicitor, Dermot McNamara, said.

“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.”

Lobov is thought to be seeking 5% of the $600 million (£500 million) McGregor made when he sold majority ownership in the brand to Proximo Spirits in 2021 - prompting McGregor to issue a scathing response to his one-time trusted training partner.

“Artem is a rat...nah nah nah nah, hey,” he sang in an audio message posted to Twitter, which has since been deleted.

mfs done stole my screenshot