UFC featherweight alum and The Final Fighter 22 finalist, Artem Lobov has revealed that he performed a pivotal position in serving to Straight Blast Fitness center teammate, Conor McGregor forge out an concept to create his now blockbuster spirit, Correct 12 Irish whiskey.
Lobov, an alum of the UFC, in addition to Cage Warriors and BKFC (Naked Knuckle Preventing Championship) – most just lately featured professionally again in July of final yr underneath the Mahatch FC banner in Ukraine, struggling a fourth spherical TKO loss in opposition to boxer, Denys Berinchyk.
Retiring from skilled fight sports activities quickly thereafter, Lobov, 35, revealed throughout a current interview with TalkSport reporter, Jordan Ellis – how he had give you the concept for his teammate, McGregor to enter the whiskey enterprise, in addition to revealing that Blanchardstown reporter, Peter Carroll would even be penning a biography of his profession this yr.
“The promoting level of my e book would be the Correct 12 whiskey story,” Artem Lobov mentioned. “A couple of individuals know, however this was really my concept. I used to be the one that got here up with the concept to do a whiskey for Conor (McGregor).”
Lobov revealed that Recreation of Thrones actor and powerlifter, Hafþór Björnsson had approached McGregor about the potential for releasing a vodka in his native Iceland, nonetheless, Lobov steered the Dubliner to think about getting into the whiskey market as a substitute.
“After the second (Nate) Diaz battle, me and Conor had been within the gymnasium and we had been speaking at some point, and he says to me, ‘Artem, Thor (Bjornsson) – ‘The Mountain’ out of Recreation of Thrones – I used to be chatting to him, and he’s provided me to do my very own vodka,” Lobov defined.
“‘He mentioned, he was doing one in Iceland and now he’s providing me the prospect to do one as properly, it appears like a fairly whole lot what do you consider that?’”
Artem Lobov, who beforehand studied finance in school, consulted a former colleague at a Radisson Blu resort, urging McGregor to discover the potential for releasing a whiskey.
“I mentioned to him earlier than you look any additional, ‘Right here’s what I learn about Irish whiskey,’ I informed him about my presentation in school. I informed him in regards to the dominance of Irish whiskey and all of that,” Artem Lobov mentioned. “He (McGregor) mentioned, ‘You go off and see what deal you possibly can put collectively’ and I went on my method.”
“Fortunate for me, after I was finding out in school, I used to work within the bar on the Radisson Resort and I had a good friend who labored within the bar with me. We had been simply two 18-year-old children. I clearly left and did my very own factor however Ivan stayed working in hospitality and labored his method as much as be common supervisor of a resort.”
“He put me in contact with a person known as Niall, of Basic Drinks, a prime drink distribution firm in Eire,” Artem Lobov defined. “Niall was variety sufficient to satisfy me – on the Radisson really, and he was very beneficiant together with his data. As soon as I received that data, I went on and met all totally different whiskey distilleries. I known as some and met some in individual. I did my analysis and put a fantastic deal collectively.”
Artem Lobov revealed he turned down a $1,000,000 money reward from Conor McGregor for brokering the deal
After approaching McGregor and his representatives concerning the deal he had drawn up and brokered, Lobov revealed the previous two-weight champion and UFC celebrity had provided him $1,000,000 – which he in flip, turned down.
“Conor provided me $1,000,000 however I turned it down, I didn’t settle for it,” Artem Lobov revealed. “, all through my profession each time I’ve helped Conor with camps, he provided to pay me for them camps, however I by no means accepted cash from him. I mentioned, ‘We’ve all the time been pals and helped one another. I by no means paid you for my camps, so I’m not gonna settle for cash from you for my camps both.’”
Set to launch a e book earlier than the tip of this yr or at the start of 2023 – penned by the aforenoted, Carroll, Lobov remained coy on divulging an excessive amount of data on his half within the establishing of Correct 12.
“With the whiskey, there was a bit extra to the story about how that went about and what occurred, however I don’t wish to share that but,” Artem Lobov mentioned. “I’m hoping my e book does properly and I’ll inform the story within the e book.”
