It seems like the friendship between Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov has reached a breaking point, and that’s going to cost $30 million.
According to The Independent, Lobov is suing McGregor over a deal for Proper No. Twelve whiskey, which has helped to catapult McGregor into one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
The suit alleges that Lobov was “instrumental in developing the brand” and feels he should be paid for his work.
According to the suit, Lobov says McGregor already offered Lobov $1 million but he turned down the offer.
Lobov’s lawyer Dermot McNamara told the outlet, “My client was the initial creator and co-founder of the concept to launch an Irish whiskey brand associated with Mr McGregor.”
Lobov says he studied the whisky market in college and the pair “first discussed the idea during a gym session” after McGregor toyed with making a vodka brand in Iceland but it was Lobov that steered him towards Irish whisky and ” he held talks with distilleries and ‘put a beautiful deal together,” the suit says.
A spokesperson for McGregor said, “Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey was created, developed, branded and tirelessly promoted by Conor McGregor.”
At one point, Lobov and McGregor’s friendship was so strong that McGregor hopped in a plane and threw a dolly through a bus window when he say Khabib Nurmagomedov put his hands on Lobov during a NY fight week.
Artem Lobov suing Conor McGregor for $30 million