Conor McGregor's manager Audie Attar tells Artem Lobov to 'move on, buddy' over whiskey claims

Attar says the whiskey idea they explored with Lobov was "a completely different group, completely different branding" and that he was ready to testify in the Proper No. Twelve case.

Conor McGregor's manager Audie Attar has hit back at Artem Lobov over Proper No. Twelve, saying the whiskey idea they once explored with McGregor's former sparring partner was a separate deal that never went ahead.

"Conor gave his friends a lot of opportunities," Attar told The Ariel Helwani Show. "And we explored an opportunity with Artem, didn't work out." Asked what it was for, he said: "For a whiskey. Well, we didn't do it." He added that it was "a completely different group, completely different branding".

Later in the interview, when Ariel Helwani put to him Lobov's claim that it was his idea and he had a verbal agreement, Attar answered: "No." He went on: "Nope. At all. Like, you're his training partner and friend, and all of a sudden you're this great entrepreneur? Show me some of your wins."

Attar said the deal they did not do "would've required us to put our own money in, millions of dollars, or raise capital". Proper No. Twelve was set up differently, he said: "We structured that deal to be so favorable to Conor, who owned the lion's share of the entire company, who had the controlling interest of the entire company." He said a major spirits company came in as partner and investor, and the brand was sold within three years.

Lobov later took McGregor to the High Court, saying there was an agreement that would give him 5% of the proceeds of the sale of Proper No. Twelve. McGregor denied there was an agreement over the proceeds but admitted later offering Lobov $1 million in recognition of work done to develop a whiskey brand. The case was settled in April, with details not disclosed.

Attar said McGregor had gone to Lobov with something after the sale. "And he did come to go to Artem with something, and Artem said, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it," he said. He said he was not named in the case and did not know where it settled. "But I do know I was gonna testify and I couldn't wait because this guy keeps, you know, putting my name in his mouth. But who is he, right? Who is he?" he said.

Lobov has said on X that he negotiated McGregor's whiskey deal, in a post that also claimed McGregor "took care of nobody" and did not pay his coach and friends what was promised. Attar said: "I just see this as, as his only way of staying relevant." He added: "And by the way, he fought in the UFC only because Conor. Only because of Conor."

"So ultimately, look, I wish him the best. I hope he finds his happiness. I hope he gets his win. I hope he continues to find success in whatever he's looking for. But like, move on, buddy," Attar said.

READ NEXTKayla Harrison says she was in 'a little bit of a dark place' during neck layoff before NunesRead the next story →

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google