With career in final chapters, Artem Lobov reminisces on UFC run, combat sports journey

Artem Lobov’s ride in combat sports has been a wild one.

From competing in the UFC’s reality show “The Ultimate Fighter,” headlining a UFC event, fighting former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi in a bare-knuckle contest, and being along side Conor McGregor’s rise to stardom, Lobov (13-15-1 MMA) has experienced quite a lot. “The Russian Hammer” has become a fan favorite through the years and one of the most recognized names in combat sports.

And although Lobov found a good deal of success in hand-to-hand combat, none of this was ever planned, much less dreamed of, he said.

“I never thought that this was going to be my career,” Lobov said on Monday’s episode of “Hablemos MMA.” “I was working at a bank, and I thought I was going to do finance and business. I would fight because that’s what I liked doing, and it was my passion. And after I got the opportunity to make some money and charge for my fighting, something I liked doing very much, then I thought, ‘Of course, why not make it a career?’ But I never ever thought of this.”

At 34, and with a decade of experience as a professional fighter, Lobov feels his career is nearing its final chapters. It’s not that Lobov doesn’t feel capable of fighting into his late 30s and early 40s, like many fighters do, but he knows there is a life after fighting.

“I started very late; I was 21 when I started fighting in MMA, so I’m still very young in MMA,” Lobov said. “I see myself fighting two more years, and that’s it.

“Well, that’s what I want, but the truth is that fighters stay in the sport longer than they should because when you start, they pay you say $100, $200, and when you’re older, you might be a little past your time, (but) people offer you $100,000 for a fight, so of course you’re going to say, ‘Yes.’ That’s the difficult part. For me, I have a son now, and I want to be a good father. I want to have good health, so I think two more years and that’s it.”

Lobov returns to MMA in December. He signed a one-fight deal with Arena Fight Championship to compete against Ylies Djiroun in France.

The SBG Ireland product has been away from MMA competition for two years, as he was busy bare-knuckle boxing for BKFC. He fought three times for the promotion, where he went 2-1.

Lobov will return to MMA for now, but he’s open to other combat sports, as well.

“For me it’s not that important (what kind of sport I fight in),” Lobov said. “What I do want to see is a lot of money, lot’s of it. So they pay me, and I fight. Whoever pays me more, that’s where I’ll be fighting.

“I’m pretty sure my next fight will be in MMA, but I also want to fight again bare-knuckle and normal boxing. That’s what I want to do the next year, but my next fight will be in MMA.”

Lobov is not sure if he’ll compete again under the major MMA promotions in America, but he’s not opposed to the idea. The featherweight thinks his days with the UFC are likely over, even though there is a name that catches his interest – a teammate of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Most likely (I won’t fight for the UFC), but there is one fighter in the UFC who I’d like to face – that’s Zubaira Tukhugov from Khabib’s team,” Lobov said. “I’m willing to do that fight for free, and I will always want that fight. But I don’t care where I fight. UFC, Bellator, whoever pays me more. that’s where I’ll fight.”

Lobov’s three-year run with the UFC from 2015 to 2018 was certainly the period where he built his name in the MMA. The seasoned veteran looks back at his time with the premiere MMA promotion on the planet fondly, especially his beginning.

“I have so many good memories from the UFC,” Lobov said. “‘The Ultimate Fighter’ house that was very nice. You didn’t need to worry about anything. You’re living in a house that’s nice, and they give you food — all you have to do is train and fight. If it was up to me, I’d live my entire life there. I have very good memories from that. I also got three knockouts in that house, so it was good time.

“Also, the main event against Cub Swanson. I know I lost that fight, but we won ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus, and he’s also a fighter that was ranked fourth in the world at the time. So those memories are very good for me.”