Conor McGregor continues to take shots at Artem Lobov.
In November, Lobov filed suit against McGregor for millions, claiming he was an integral part in the development of the Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey brand that McGregor sold a majority stake in for $600 million in 2021. While McGregorâs representatives formally rejected Lobovâs claims, McGregor himself has taken a more colorful approach in responding to his former friendâs lawsuit.
After the suit was first announced, McGregor took to social media to mock Lobov with a voice note singing, âArtem is a rat.â Then, after Lobov allegedly filed a second suit against McGregor for defamation, âNotoriousâ challenged his former teammate to a fight at their old gym. Nothing came of that but earlier this week, per Independent.ie, McGregor did earn a small legal victory by blocking Lobovâs attempt to move the suit into the Commercial Court, which âfast tracks the hearing of big money disputes.â Riding high off his most recent win, McGregor then took to Twitter on Thursday to one again mock his Lobov, including dropping another voice not with another disparaging song about his former friend.
âArtem is a Jonny Head, nah nah, nah nah. Nah nah, nah nah. Hey! Jonny Head,â McGregor posted. âArtem you little [Jonny Head], unlucky the other day in court, proper twelve day, but what did you expect? I want them court fees the judge awarded me also. Need them pal. F****** idiot.
McGregor and Lobov were once considered close friends, with Lobov serving as one of McGregorâs primary sparring partners during his peak run in the UFC. Lobov was also a central figure in McGregorâs heated feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov leading up to UFC 223.
I suspect there is missing context to Artem saying he wonât take any money. That is the 1 million offered to go away. Heâll take the 5% equity originally offered but wonât take 1 million cash out of Conratâs pocket is my guess. Letâs see from Artemâs side what Instagram message from him made him reply like that. âArtem why wonât you take the 1 million cash we are offering youâ perhaps?
LOL McWhiskey
âKeeps me warm on the coldest nightsâ LMAO
The Conor McGregor vs. Artem Lobov Proper 12 whiskey lawsuit is a multimillion-dollar battle that will take place across many rounds. On Thursday, McGregor won round one, blocking the case from being fast-tracked in Irelandâs Commercial Court.
The Commercial Court is a division of the High Court that deals solely with significant commercial cases. It handles disputes where the value of the claim is more than one million Euro, and its cases tend to be resolved much faster than cases adjudicated through the standard High Court. Justice Denis McDonald determined that between the courtâs âscarce resourcesâ and the âlapse of timeâ between the whiskey deal and the lawsuit, the case would not be picked up by the Commercial Court.
McGregor gloated on social media in a since-deleted Tweet.
âArtem you little jonny head, unlicky the other day in court, proper twelve day, but what did you expect?â he wrote. âI want them court fees the judge awarded me also. Need them pal. Fâing idiot.â
âMr Lobov notes the judgeâs ruling and thanks him for his consideration of the application,â Artemâs lawyer said after the hearing. âHe is now looking forward to his case progressing in the High Court chancery list instead and hopes the proceedings can be determined as soon as possible.â
Documents filed by both sides for the hearing included some new deals about the case, which has Lobov demanding a 5 percent cut of a $600 million sale of the Proper 12 whiskey brand. According to Lobov, he was the idea man and key figure behind setting up the whiskey business. And now he says he has three witnesses who were there to see McGregor shake his hand and tell him, âRemember, 5 percent is yours, no matter what.â
McGregorâs lawyers countered with messages sent from Lobov where he repeatedly said he didnât want any money from the deal.
âLet me start by saying that I swear on my childâs life I will NOT take a cent out of the whiskey deal!!!â one message read. âThat is something I enjoyed doing and the thought of knowing that I helped you with something keeps me warm on the coldest of nights.â
âSwearing on your childâs life is ludicrous, pal,â McGregor wrote in another since-deleted message. âActually revolting. âKeeps me warm on the coldest of nights,â haha fâsake lad wtf happened to you man? Piss off and leave me alone how about that lad? Fâing turncoat pâ.â
McGregor once again threatened that Lobov would be stuck paying for all court fees related to the case in the end.
âIâm not paying these lawyers nothing,â he wrote. âLittle rartem is. The business genius with his college degree. Fâing jackass ⌠Itâs deeper than the dough for me. Put it on me box.â
Well, suffice to say after 15 years of close friendship, Lobov and McGregor are no longer pals. Weâll keep you updated as this multimillion-dollar case winds its way through the Irish High Court.
Artem is not beating him in the Irish court. If he even has a legit case.
I am willing to wager Artemâs woman got into his ear. âArtem didnât you help him set up the business? He would be nothing without you, you need to get some money for itâ.
Also Artem was foolish. Always ink the deal, especially with your friends and even more especially with your family.
this , all ways
I wonder what this means?
Mr Justice Denis McDonald said that, while he had sympathy for Lobov
Seems an odd comment to make unless the Judge read all the facts of the case and he thinks Artem has a good case but he cannot hear it, or maybe he means he just feels sorry for Artem because $30 million is a lot of money and he too would like to get it immediately. 
The Commercial Court, which fast tracks the hearing of big money disputes, today declined to enter the whiskey dispute onto its list, meaning the case will now progress at a slower pace in another court.
Mr Justice Denis McDonald said that, while he had sympathy for Lobov, he could not enter the case on his list having regard to âthe courtâs scarce resourcesâ and the fact there was âa significant lapse of timeâ between the whiskey deal and the issuing of the proceedings.
Artem Hungry Now , there goes the spoils and ESQ Fees
There was a major update Friday on Artem Lobovâs second lawsuit against former close friend Conor McGregor.
Back in the days of The Ultimate Fighter 22, Artem Lobov and Conor McGregor were the best of friends. McGregor was brought in to coach that season opposite Urijah Faber and he insisted that his friend Lobov be on his team. Now, fast forward seven years, and these two former friends are spending less time on the mats and more time in court.
Recently word was released that Lobov has filed a lawsuit against McGregor after claiming to have created the idea of McGregorâs Proper 12 whiskey. Lobov was looking for 30 million dollars stemming from McGregorâs majority sale of the successful whiskey company.
McGregor thought the lawsuit was ridiculous and took to Twitter to say just that. He called Lobov names on social media including ârat.â This has now led to yet another lawsuit.
Image Credit: @rushhammer on Instagram
McGregor announced that Lobov was now seeing him and his father for âdefamation.â The two parties have appeared in court to solve these issues, He explained on his Twitter once again that things may not be going well for Lobov.
âArtem you little Jonny head, unlucky the other day in court, proper twelve day, but what did you expect? I want them court fees the judge awarded me also. Need them pal. Fâking idiot,â he wrote.
The former UFC champion continued to send shots at Lobov.
âIâm not paying these lawyers nothing. Little rartem is. The business genius with his college degree. Fuckin jackass.â
âIâve decided to write a book. Iâm calling it âcoat tail riding rat cunt rest in pissâ
Artem Lobovâs Injunction Bid Fails In Court
Friday, it was reported that Artem Lobov attempted to obtain an injunction against McGregor to prevent the former UFC champion from calling him a âratâ or similar labels on social media, arguing that the term was defamatory. Lobov went on to argue that being called a rat caused harm to his character due to the implication that he is an informant who has betrayed the trust of others.
Lobovâs injunction attempt failed due to the judge ruling that no reasonable person would have such an interpretation of McGregorâs tweets and would be much more likely to chalk up the comments to trash talk from an MMA fighter. The judge even stated that the âratâ term was not even the most insulting of McGregorâs choice of words.
McGregor shared and reacted to the news on social media in the tweet below, along with a celebratory rat reference for good measure.
âWell there ya go Stuart little. You now owe me two major court appearance fees. Stop this nonsense. You are making a holy show of yourself. Peel it back day by day, if you can even. Thatâs coming from the âold friend, woulda done anything for youâ in me mate. God bless.â
McGregor has been inactive in the UFC since his leg injury that he suffered during his last bout in July of 2021. He has remained active on social media and has been claiming that he will be back next year.
This feud with Lobov in addition to the many other social media squabbles that McGregor participates in on a weekly basis seem to do a good job of keeping him in the news while he remains on the sidelines.
McGregor and Lobov are due back in court on January 11 in relation to this lawsuit. MMA News will keep you updated on this developing story as more news becomes available.