“He shook my hand, looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘Five per cent is yours no matter what.’”Artem Lobov is describing an interaction that he claims changed his relationship with UFC megastar Conor McGregor forever — the epicentre of a bitter feud that has led to a lawsuit with millions on the line. Lobov, a former UFC fighter himself, was an integral part of McGregor’s training camp throughout the Irishman’s rise to MMA’s summit, before he became the first man to hold two UFC titles at the same timeGettyThe pair shared a unique bond when McGregor was at the peak of his powers in Dana White‘s promotion, having both trained under John Kavanagh at Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym (SBG).Lobov cornered the Irishman on several occasions having fought for Team McGregor in season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2015.McGregor returned the favour too, attending many of Lobov’s bouts, including his friend’s victory over Teruto Ishihara at UFC Belfast in November 2016, just a week after he knocked out Eddie Alvarez to make UFC history.Now, on December 9, Lobov will take the stand and have his case against his former best friend and training partner heard in Ireland’s High Court.The 39-year-old MMA fighter, who is returning under the PFL banner on October 3 after a seven-year hiatus from the sport to fight Zubaira Tukhugov in Dubai, is suing McGregor over an alleged broken promise in relation to the Irishman’s whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve.“I had no other option,” Lobov says, detailing how his original plan was to write a book on the events that unfolded with McGregor before realising the only option was to issue legal proceedings.Why is Artem Lobov suing Conor McGregor?According to Lobov, McGregor verbally agreed with a handshake to give him five per cent of Proper No. Twelve after a conversation at SBG.Lobov has previously said he played an integral part in forming the company, claiming it was his ‘idea,’ and revealing that he even turned down $1million when the business came to fruition.The whiskey brand was later sold to Proximo Spirits in 2021 in a deal worth up to $600m, from which McGregor was said to take $130m.Having agreed to a five per cent cut, Lobov insists he is now entitled to $6.5m of McGregor’s payout.What have McGregor’s side said?McGregor supported Lobov throughout his UFC journey too, giving instructions during the Russian’s defeat to Andrea Fili eight years ago in Gdansk, PolandGettyLobov reached the finale of TUF 22 for Team McGregor, having trained with the Irishman in Dublin for several yearsGettyMcGregor’s team have denied Lobov’s claims of any oral agreement made between the two parties in relation to Proper No. Twelve.In 2022, McGregor’s spokesperson Karen J Kessler issued a statement on the matter.“Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey was created, developed, branded and tirelessly promoted by Conor McGregor,” the statement read.“Any suggestion that the plaintiff has a claim to Proper No. Twelve is incorrect.”Kessler has been contacted for a new comment following Lobov’s fresh allegations.Lobov’s case with McGregor was reignited when he opened up about it with Ariel Helwani last month, and the Russian has now provided a fresh update less than two weeks out from his comeback fight.Lobov using McGregor court case ‘to tell the world the truth’Artem Lobov's UFC careerL – Michael Johnson via unanimous decision at UFC Moncton in October 2018L – Andre Fili via unanimous decision at UFC Gdansk in October 2017L – Cub Swanson via unanimous decision at UFC Nashville in April 2017W – Teruto Ishihara via unanimous decision at UFC Belfast in November 2016W – Chris Avila via unanimous decision at UFC 202 in August 2016L – Alex White via unanimous decision at UFC Vegas in February 2016L – Ryan Hall via unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber Finale in December 2015“He f***** me over,” Lobov passionately claims. “His brother, his friend that had his back no matter what, that didn’t take a cent from him.“I showed him unmatched loyalty; nobody ever showed him that kind of loyalty.”Lobov said he was offered cash numerous times by McGregor for sparring duties and helping out during training camps.“I needed that money,” he adds. “But I always looked myself in the mirror and said, ‘Artem, are you with him for money, or are you with him because you’re loyal and you’re a friend?’“‘You’re loyal, well then prove it, turn down the f****** money put in front of you’.“I did that every single time, and for him to then throw that in my face and f*** me over and s*** on me like this, that is not fair at all…McGregor added to his UFC riches when he sold his Proper No. Twelve for an estimated $130mProper Twelve“That’s why I need this court case, to tell the world the truth, because in life, time is one of the strongest things in the world — it defeats everybody, it kills everything except one thing.“One thing is stronger than time and that’s the truth. That’s the facts, and that’s what I have on my side.“I just need a bit of time, and then the facts will shine, and we’ll see who is who, who is the snake and who is the most loyal.”Lobov claims Proper No. Twelve is currently valued at around $2 billion, and insists McGregor should still be the owner of the company.He argues that McGregor’s move to sell the whiskey brand for under its market value was one he tried to prevent, accusing the Irishman’s management of forcing his former friend out of the company.McGregor hasn’t fought since suffering a horrific leg injury in his rematch with Dustin Poirier in July 2021, though his return to the Octagon has been rumoured for years.‘The Notorious’ had made well over $100 million already from his crossover boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017Getty Images - Getty‘The Notorious’ was scheduled to make his long-awaited comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, but withdrew from the card after injuring his toe in sparring.Since then, he has teased a blockbuster comeback many times through training videos, asserting this month he will face Chandler at the promotion’s historic White House card next year.Lobov, however, believes McGregor has bigger issues to address before even thinking about a return, and says the ‘Old Conor’ must resurface for it to happen.Lobov: McGregor owes me an apology“I would love for him to fight again, but right now, you can see he’s got bigger problems than fighting,” Lobov concludes.“He needs to figure those issues out, get it all squared off and then he’ll be in the right mindset to begin camp, begin training and then he for sure can come back.“But right now this is all a mess. Come on, all these videos of him training, that’s bulls***…BKFCLobov said McGregor needs to return to his old self to have any chance of having a successful UFC comeback[/caption]“Where are the people that you come up with, that always had your back? I thought you said your circle is small, mate, what happened? … “I know him like the back of my hand, I know him better than anyone on this planet because I’ve spent so many hours, so many rounds with him in there.“Just by looking at him — at his body, at his skin, at his shape, at everything — I can tell you he’s not fight-ready.“That’s not a guy that’s training. That’s not the Conor I know. That’s bulls***.“And other things, like him pulling out of the [Chandler] fight, what’s this? That ain’t Conor. I’ve never f****** seen that before.“I’ve seen him walk, march into the fight with no f****** knees, ACL torn for the second time, the other leg messed up, no f****** MCL, a meniscus tear, no bother to him.“He pulled out with a sore toe and tried to make excuses, ‘Oh I should have never fought,’ that’s all bulls***. “He can never fight on the White House card. You couldn’t have him there. Dana knows better than that.McGregor pulled out of his highly anticipated bout with Chandler after hurting his toe, but has said he will fight the American at UFC White House in 2026GettyHe and former UFC two-weight champion Jon Jones have both expressed their desire to make an emphatic comeback on the monumental cardGetty“Dana will never f****** match him for there. He needs to show the old Conor and once the old Conor comes back, then everything is possible.”Lobov had one final message for McGregor before their hearing in December.“Conor, here’s my message to you mate,” he says. “You owe me an apology, you owe me money, you owe many other people apologies as well… “We should not be fighting, we should be stronger together, and that’s my message.“We’ll have it all settled in the court on the 9th of December as well about the whiskey, then I’m hoping that Conor will finally get on the straight and narrow and the old Conor is back and then everything will be good.”Lobov has been ordered to pay 75 per cent of McGregor’s defence costs ahead of the trial.As reported by Extra.ie, Judge Nessa Cahill ruled in July that Lobov must cover the majority of legal costs after changing his claim.Five days before the pair’s initial trial was due to take place in May, Lobov’s solicitor stated that his client’s agreement with McGregor was made in October rather than September, which was the original case put forward.McGregor’s defence insisted that the late change forced the trial’s vacating and generated significant, wasted preparation costs.This led to the trial being adjourned, with a new date set for December 9.