Conor McGregor 'admits to $1million' whiskey offer to ex-teammate Artem Lobov

06 December 2023 , 09:14

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Conor McGregor 'admits to $1million' whiskey offer to ex-teammate Artem Lobov

Conor McGregor 'admitted to offering former friend and teammate Artem Lobov $1million' (£793,000) for his help launching a whiskey brand, a court in Ireland heard.

The UFC star is being sued by Lobov who claims he played a crucial role in the setting up of McGregor's Proper 12 drink. McGregor went on to sell his stake in the drink for a reported $130m (£103m). And a court in Ireland heard yesterday that McGregor did make the offer to Lobov in May or June 2020 - but that it was turned down. Furthermore, McGregor claims the offer was for Lobov's involvement in a previous whiskey venture which did not proceed.

Lobov's counsel Liam Bell said yesterday: "In pleadings Mr McGregor has conceded he offered my client $1m.” In response, McGregor's legal team said the offer had been rejected and that the dispute between the former training partners was "hotly disputed". The hearing was later adjourned until later this month.

Lobov, who retired from fighting after losing three successive bouts in the UFC, is demanding five per cent of McGregor's proceeds from the sale of Proper 12. “The selling point of my book will be the Proper 12 Whiskey story. A few people know, but this was actually my idea," he said during an interview with talkSPORT.

“After the second [Nate] Diaz fight (in 2016), me and Conor were in the gym and we were talking one day and he says to me, ‘Artem, Thor, – ‘The Mountain’ out of Game of Thrones – I was chatting to him, and he’s offered me [the chance] to do my own vodka. “I said to him before you even look any further, ‘Here’s what I know about Irish whiskey.’ I told him about the dominance of Irish whiskey and all of that. He said, ‘You go off and see what deal you can put together’ and I went on my way. Conor offered me $1m but I turned it down, I didn’t accept it."

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A spokesperson for McGregor has insisted that: “Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey was created, developed, branded and tirelessly promoted by Conor McGregor."

Martin Domin