DUBAI: MMA veteran Artem Lobov (14-15-1) has had a celebrated but turbulent career, marked by high-profile opportunities, close relationships, and lingering controversies. A native of Russia who has long been based in Ireland, Lobov has struggled to put together winning streaks at crucial moments.
His friendship with global superstar Conor McGregor — once close friends, teammates, even “brothers” — eventually soured after Lobov filed a lawsuit in Ireland’s High Court, claiming he was promised a share of the profits from McGregor’s whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve after allegedly being “instrumental in launching” the brand.
Lobov also had a hand — albeit indirectly — in setting up one of McGregor’s and the sport’s biggest fights. His scheduled bout with Dagestan’s Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) in October 2018 triggered significant conflict between the two camps, who frequently had run-ins outside the cage.
This incident helped set in motion the framework for the blockbuster UFC 229 fight between their respective teammates, McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov — an event that shattered pay-per-view records and left a lasting impact on the sport, drawing about 2.4 million PPV buys.
Beyond the fight itself, the night will forever be remembered for the chaos that erupted after the result, as both camps clashed once again inside the T-Mobile Arena.
Because of the fallout from that incident, Lobov’s fight with Tukhugov was canceled. The Nevada State Athletic Commission launched an investigation, and Tukhugov was pulled from the fight set for Moncton, Canada. Lobov instead faced Michael Johnson, and he eventually lost by a unanimous decision. It would be the last time the “Russian Hammer” would compete in mixed martial arts.
Fast-forward to today: After competing in bare-knuckle boxing and traversing various combat-sport ventures, Lobov is making a big return to MMA through one of its fastest-growing platforms, the Professional Fighters League.
And his return has been made all the sweeter as he gets to face Tukhugov in a 165-pound catchweight MMA bout on the card at the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai — The Rematch, on Oct. 3 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Lobov is keen on closing this chapter with a fight that is billed as the culmination of a rivalry seven years in the making.
He said: “It was a very interesting fight for the public, for everyone, for ourselves. The UFC even had it as a co-main event in Canada. That tells you everything about the reach and public interest. Now, we have to finish this off.
“There’s no point in talking; we’re fighters. I feel the story isn’t over until we’ve fought. We saw a lot of action from Zubaira when he told me to say things to his face while surrounded by 10 guys back in 2018; now it’s one-on-one, and I finally get a chance to say it to his face, and he can do the same to me.
“This story is too big to end without a fight. We will handle this like in the animal kingdom — two lions settling it the way lions do. When it’s done, we go our separate ways — but not until then. I want him in front of me, and I want to see if he can back up every word he’s spoken.”
Tukhugov, an elite grappler who boasts explosive striking, said: “If Artem still feels it’s an open topic, then we definitely have to go to the SmartCage and close this question there. I agree, it is a very promising fight for the public, for the audience, and for both of us. We have a score to settle.”
Both fighters are coming into the matchup on the back of defeats, which only adds to the intensity.
Tukhugov last fought in February 2023, when he lost by split decision, while Lobov recorded a retirement loss in bare-knuckle boxing in 2021.
The break did Lobov good, but the SBG Ireland athlete admitted that he started feeling the itch once again.
He said: “Bare-knuckle fighting is intense and demanding, and I needed a break from fighting … but fighting is in my blood. After some time I felt the adrenaline again and knew I had to take this fight.”
While Lobov’s relationship with McGregor remains unresolved, this return gives him the chance to build on his legacy, scratch an old itch, and perhaps close a chapter he has held open for nearly a decade.
Lobov said: “This is a massive fight. Zubaira has to be happy with how big it is. It will be watched worldwide, not just in Russia. These are the kinds of fights you want to be involved in. When I fight, the world watches.”
The 12-fight card is headlined by a championship double-header, with a main event that marks the biggest rematch in PFL history to date.
Dagestan’s unbeaten PFL Lightweight World Champion Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) is to step into the SmartCage once again to face Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14-2).
The co-main event features the US’ former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) battling 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov from Turkmenistan (25-7-1) for the world title.
