Lobov stung with legal costs after changing claim against McGregor

Extra.ie​

12-07-2025

Former MMA fighter Artem Lobov, who is suing Conor McGregor for a €6million share of his whiskey brand, must pay the lion's share of legal costs after changing his claim, the High Court has ruled.
Artem Lobov, 38, a retired fighter known as 'The Russian Hammer', claims he was the original creator and co-founder of the whiskey that became McGregor's Proper No. Twelve.
He said he came up with the idea while studying for his Master's degree at DCU, and his sparring partner Mr McGregor had agreed he would be entitled to a 5% share of the proceeds.
He said the offer was made at the Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin. But at the pre-trial stage, Mr Lobov changed the date on which he said the deal had been agreed with Mr McGregor, resulting in the trial being adjourned with just days to go. Artem Lobov taunts opponent Andre Fili. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Yesterday, Judge Nessa Cahill said Mr Lobov's initial statement of claim had read 'in September 2017 at the SBG gym' Mr McGregor 'made a specific offer to the plaintiff of 5% of the proceeds of the whiskey deal'.
She said Mr Lobov asserted it was confirmed by a handshake witnessed by three people. Mr McGregor denied the claim, the judge said, saying there was never any agreement.
The trial was set down for May this year. Five days before it was due to start, Mr Lobov's solicitors wrote to Mr McGregor: 'On reviewing the documentation… the plaintiff's evidence now shall be that the agreement… was concluded in October 2017 in SBG Gym.'
Judge Cahill said that, in a sworn statement, Mr Lobov had apologised for his error.
She said: 'He recalled he was, in fact, in Iceland for 10 days after the defendant's fight against Floyd Mayweather on August 26, 2017.'
The court heard messages Mr Lobov had accessed confirmed to him that the meeting with Mr McGregor was in the week beginning October 9, 2017, and not in September. Artem Lobov of Russia celebrates with then teammate and UFC champion Conor McGregor after his featherweight bout against Teruto Ishihara during the UFC Fight Night at the SSE Arena. Pic: Getty Images
Judge Cahill said Mr McGregor had been prejudiced in his defence by the change of date.
She noted Mr Lobov was going through belongings when he found an old phone and was able to access messages on it.
She ruled: 'I am of the view that the just order in the circumstances of this matter is an order that the plaintiff bear liability for 75% of the costs incurred by the defendant from March 18, 2025, in preparing this matter for trial, up to and including the costs of the first day of trial. This is to cover the costs of work done by the legal team during that period.'
She said her order did not cover costs incurred before March 18, but would include 75% of the fees associated with the first day of the hearing and the costs of delivering an amended defence.
Judge Cahill granted a stay on the order until the conclusion of the full case. The trial is expected to go ahead in the autumn.