Conor McGregor calls Russian teammate a ‘rat’ as whiskey dispute heats up – Reuters

UFC star Conor McGregor has launched a stunning attack on his longtime friend and sparring partner Artem Lobov after the retired Russian fighter sued over the royalty payment he claims to be owed to him by McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve brand of whiskey.

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

« My client is a retired professional fighter with a master’s degree in [Dublin City University] in finance and capital marketssaid Lobov’s attorney, Dermot McNamara.

« We have launched proceedings in the High Court on his behalf to enforce an agreement with Mr McGregor over the Proper No. Twelve brand of whiskey.”

« My client was the original creator and co-founder of the concept to launch a brand of Irish whiskey associated with Mr. McGregor. As these matters are now before the courts, we will make no further comment.”

Lobov is believed to be after 5% of the $600m (£500m) McGregor earned when he sold the brand’s majority stake to Proximo Spirits in 2021 – prompting McGregor to issue a scathing response to his former trusted training partner.

« Artem is a rat… nah nah nah nah, heyhe sang in an audio message posted to Twitter, which has since been deleted.

Lobov did not respond to the post but fellow MMA fighter Cris Cyborg responded to say McGregor’s actions were « pathetic– prompting even more scorn from the Irishman.

« you are an abominationhe wrote of the Brazilian. « Close your flap.”

The situation comes several weeks after Lobov revealed in a talkSPORT interview that he was at the heart of the booze launch and had previously turned down a $1million (£830,000) offer in compensation for his efforts.

« Conor offered me 1 million dollars but I refused, I didn’t accept it. You know, throughout my career, whenever I’ve helped Conor with camps, he’s offered to pay me for those camps, but I’ve never accepted any money from him., » he said.

« I said, ‘We’ve always been friends and we’ve helped each other. I’ve never paid you for my camps so I won’t accept any money from you for my camps either.”

McGregor’s team, meanwhile, dismissed Lobov’s claim

« Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey was created, developed, branded and tirelessly promoted by Conor McGregorsaid McGregor spokeswoman Karen Kessler. « Any suggestion that the applicant has a right to Proper 12 is incorrect..”