Conor McGregor is facing a massive lawsuit as his friend is suing him over claims he came up with the idea for the Proper 12 whiskey brand.
McGregor, 34, launched the drink in 2018 when he was at the peak of his career. The Dubliner was then one of three shareholders who sold their stake for a combined $600million (€581m) three years later.
Now, his friend and former UFC teammate Artem Lobov, is demanding 5% of those proceeds, Mirror UK reports. The 36-year-old Russian trained alongside Crumlin man McGregor and was in his corner for some of his biggest fights - but launched his court action on Tuesday.
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His solicitor, Dermot McNamara, told the Irish Independent : "My client is a retired professional fighter with a master’s degree from DCU in Finance and Capital Markets. We have issued High Court proceedings on his behalf to enforce an agreement with Mr McGregor regarding the Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand. As these matters are now before the court, we will not be making any further comment."
Lobov has insisted previously that the whiskey brand was his idea but also claimed to have turned down a payment of $1m (€969k) from McGregor.
“The selling point of my book will be the Proper 12 Whiskey story. A few people know, but this was actually my idea," he said during an interview with talkSPORT.
“After the second Diaz fight, me and Conor were in the gym and we were talking one day and he says to me, ‘Artem, Thor, – ‘The Mountain’ out of Game of Thrones – I was chatting to him, and he’s offered me [the chance] to do my own vodka.
“I said to him before you even look any further, ‘here’s what I know about Irish whiskey.’ I told him about the dominance of Irish whiskey and all of that. He said, ‘You go off and see what deal you can put together’ and I went on my way. Conor offered me $1m but I turned it down, I didn’t accept it."
A spokesperson for McGregor said: “Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey was created, developed, branded and tirelessly promoted by Conor McGregor."
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