Legal action initiated against Conor McGregor over his whisky brand.
In an unexpected turn of events, Russian MMA fighter Artem Lobov has filed a lawsuit against Irish fighter Conor McGregor, seeking $7.5 million. Lobov claims he was a co-founder of McGregor's Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand and played a crucial role in its creation, negotiation, and promotion.
According to Lobov, he came up with the idea for Proper No. Twelve, negotiated the deal with the distillery, and tirelessly helped brand and promote the product. He alleges that McGregor promised him a 5% share of the brand via a handshake deal but later denied his involvement and compensation.
The lawsuit, currently ongoing in Ireland’s High Court, has drawn significant attention due to the parties’ prior close friendship and shared history as training partners in MMA. McGregor's side disputes Lobov's claims, calling them "incorrect" and denying his entitlement to any share of the company.
Meanwhile, Lobov is not just seeking financial compensation. He is also pushing for official recognition as a co-founder of the Proper Twelve whiskey brand, stating that without his efforts, the brand's success (valued at around $1 billion) would not have happened.
Interestingly, McGregor, who won the UFC featherweight title in 2015 and the lightweight title the following year, recently announced his intention to run for president of Ireland. His last fight was in 2021, where he lost to American Dustin Poirier by TKO.
In a separate matter, a petition on Change.org calling for a change in the current candidate nomination process in Ireland gathered over 3,700 signatures within the first four hours of its publication. The petition, initiated by Lobov, aims to simplify the process, allowing Irish citizens, including those living abroad, to directly determine who will be on the ballot.
The current Irish Constitution requires a candidate to be nominated by at least 20 members of parliament or four county councils to participate in the presidential race. McGregor believes these requirements limit the possibility of direct citizen involvement in choosing candidates and hinder the democratic process.
As of now, Proper Twelve sells around 330,000 cases a year, bringing in approximately $120 million just in the U.S. market. The company's valuation is estimated at $1.5-2 billion, and the whiskey is not yet available in all countries.
[1] The Irish Times - Artem Lobov sues Conor McGregor for $7.5 million over Proper No. Twelve whiskey [2] BBC News - Artem Lobov sues Conor McGregor over Proper No. Twelve whiskey [3] Independent.ie - Artem Lobov sues Conor McGregor for $7.5 million over Proper No. Twelve whiskey [4] New York Post - Artem Lobov sues Conor McGregor for $7.5 million over Proper No. Twelve whiskey
Lobov, the mixed-martial-arts fighter, alleges that he was a co-founder of McGregor's Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand, claiming he played a significant role in its creation, negotiation, and promotion, including coming up with the initial idea. In his lawsuit against McGregor, he is seeking financial compensation and official recognition as a co-founder of the multi-billion-dollar brand.
