When Artem Lobov looks back on his first bare-knuckle boxing match with Jason Knight, he does so fondly, even though those 10 minutes felt like being run through a certain kitchen appliance.
“That fight, I felt like I was just in the blender,” Lobov told MMA Junkie Radio. “I was just going out, and it was somebody turning on the blender, and there was shots flying from everywhere, blood was (expletive) all over the place. Then the round would be over, I would sit down, my hands were in agony. I was like, ‘What the (expletive) has just happened?’ They would say it’s time to go back out there again. They turn the blender back on, and it was just all over again. It was an absolutely crazy experience.”
Anybody who watched would know Lobov’s description is an accurate one. The epic brawl with Knight, which Lobov won by unanimous decision, took place in April 2019 at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 5. By the end of it, both men’s faces looked like they’d been attacked by someone with a razor blade.
And yet, Lobov enjoyed his time in BKFC where he fought three times in 2019 after being released from the UFC.
“I absolutely loved it,” Lobov said. “It’s a great sport. It’s a great experience. It’s unlike anything I have ever experienced.”
BKFC 5 was Lobov’s debut, and he would go on to compete twice more. In June 2019, he defeated former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi by unanimous decision in what was a measure of revenge on behalf of good friend Conor McGregor, who’d feuded with Malignaggi since their fallout from McGregor’s training for Floyd Mayweather. Lobov closed out his 2019 with a rematch loss to Knight.
Lobov is set to make his return to MMA Saturday when he faces Ylies Djiroun for the lightweight title in the main event of ARENA FIGHT 2. Heading into 2021, Lobov, who said he’ll keep fighting for another two years, aspires to partake in boxing matches as he looks for big paydays.
Bare knuckle also remains on his radar. For Lobov, not only was he satisfied with his pay from BKFC, he believes the sport is a great combination of both action and safety.
“I really love that the fact that the rounds are only two minutes and there’s only five of them. That ensures excitement,” Lobov said. “As soon as you start adding fighting time, excitement takes a hit. Straight away, people are just too careful, (and) they’re afraid of getting tired – rightfully so, of course. Also, on top of that, in terms of brain damage, fighting time is directly correlated to brain injuries. So the shorter you fight, the less likely you will get brain injuries. I really love that concept. It’s not very long: Get in, put on a show, and get the (expletive) out. And it pays so well, damn right I loved it.
“I’m hoping to make a comeback at some point in 2021. I want to be fighting across all the sports, and bare knuckle is probably at the very top of that list.”
Artem Lobov ‘absolutely loved’ fighting bare knuckle, hopes to do it again in 2021
