Artem Lobov: Conor McGregor was in 'party mindset' before Khabib fight, hardly trained
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was submitted by Nurmagomedov in the fourth round of their lightweight title fight at UFC 229 in October 2018, marking the highest-selling pay-per-view in the promotion's history. McGregor's fight against Nurmagomedov came after he made his biggest-career paycheck against Floyd Mayweather in boxing.
Prior to the Nurmagomedov fight, McGregor's most recent MMA fight was arguably the greatest performance of his career when he dominated and stopped Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC's first dual-champion. Lobov thinks that mindset of McGregor could have posed problems for Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC).
"I would love to see him come back, because I feel that if he was at 100 percent, we would be able to bring Khabib back, as well," Lobov said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I think Khabib would come back for that fight if Conor was 100 percent and fit and making real moves, making real fights. He would just need one fight, knock the guy out, and then the whole world will be talking to Khabib and getting him to come back. I know that fight bothers Conor because he didn't train at all for that fight.
"Twice a week he was training for Khabib. I tried to get him to Vegas and said to him, 'We have to do it, come on, brother.' And he said, 'No, f*ck off.' He just didn't want to do it. He was in the wrong mindset. He was in the party mindset. He was training twice a week, and that's it. So when I saw the fight, I was like, 'Oh my God, if only you trained four times a week, you probably would've beaten him.' But imagine him with a full camp, the Conor that fought Alvarez. Imagine that Conor fighting Khabib. That's what I want to see."
Lobov and McGregor went from best friends and main training partners to now battling each in an ongoing legal battle over McGregor's Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov announced that he'll be fighting Nurmagomedov's training partner, Zubaira Tukhugov, at a PFL event on Oct. 3 in Dubai.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan accuses Ilia Topuria of ducking: 'He knows I'm a big problem'
Arman Tsarukyan feels Ilia Topuria is avoiding him in fear of losing his UFC title. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Arman Tsarukyan isn't buying Ilia Topuria's reasoning for not wanting to defend his UFC lightweight title against him. Topuria claims he doesn't trust Tsarukyan on making it to the fight, and points out Tsarukyan's last-minute withdrawal from his UFC lightweight title fight against then-champion Islam Makhachev earlier this year at UFC 311. Despite that being the first time Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has withdrawn from a booked fight in his six years with the promotion, Topuria went as far as saying that he's willing to vacate his belt, should the UFC give the title shot to the Armenian fighter. Tsarukyan thinks this is just a cover-up for the real reason, and feels Topuria is "for sure" ducking him. "He feels that he's going to lose that fight, and it's better to give the belt and then like go up or wait to see what happens with me because he knows I'm a big problem for him," Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a media day scrum. "I'm going to get his title, he knows that, and he wants an easy fight with Paddy (Pimblett) or (Justin) Gaethje or someone, just make money and defend, but with me, it's going to be hard for him." Tsarukyan, who pulled out of the fight with Makhachev due to a back injury, assures that he's now healthy and ready to go. He'd be even willing to fight soon and then be ready again to fight Topuria at the end of the year should the UFC want one more fight out of him. "I already told them I'm ready September or October," Tsarukyan said. "I'm in shape and I train twice a day. I'm healthy now, so if they tell me October with somebody and December with Ilia, for sure."
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
TKO Raises Full-Year Financial Guidance After PBR, On Location and IMG Acquisitions
TKO has raised its full-year revenue and earnings guidance on the heels of its acquisition of Professional Bull Riders, On Location and IMG. Revenue and earnings for the core WWE and UFC properties were up for the second quarter and TKO leaders were touting the boost to come from WWE's new five-year pact with ESPN for 'WrestleMania' and other premium events. 'TKO generated strong financial results in the quarter, led by record performance at both UFC and WWE,' said Ariel Emanuel, executive chair and CEO of TKO. 'Our live content and experiences are proving a key differentiator for organizations and brands looking to capture audience, and our strategy is tailor made for today's experience economy and the white-hot sports event marketplace. Given the continued momentum across our portfolio and our overall business outlook, we are raising our guidance for the full year.' More from Variety ESPN Gets Headlock on WWE Live Events Like 'WrestleMania' in New U.S. Rights Deal, Content to Roll Off NBCU's Peacock Cardi B Brings the Drama as Host of WWE's SummerSlam: 'We're Making History Tonight!' WWE Wrestling-Themed Indian Film 'Chatha Pacha' Secures Global Deal With the Plot Pictures for Release in 100+ Countries (EXCLUSIVE) TKO raised its full-year guidance for revenue to between $4.630 billion and $4.690 billion, up from $4.490 billion to $4.560 billion. The target for adjusted EBITDA has been increased from $1.540 billion to $1.560 billion, up from $1.490 billion to $1.530 billion. More to come Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 72 books late addition on days' notice
A late addition has been tacked on to the bottom of Saturday's UFC event in Las Vegas. Opening the UFC on ESPN 72 prelims at the UFC Apex will be a clash between Cody Brundage and Eric McConico, the promotion recently announced. Although both fighters typically compete at middleweight, the bout is scheduled for three rounds in the light heavyweight division, likely do to the bout's short-notice nature. Brundage (11-6-1 MMA, 5-5-1 UFC) has had wildly mixed results thus far in his UFC tenure. In his past four appearances, Brundage has registered one loss, one no contest, one win, and one draw. The draw was recently made official by Georgia after Brundage successfully appealed his technical decision loss to Mansur-Abdul Malik. McConico (9-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) made his debut on short notice in February and was knocked out in Round 2 by Nursulton Ruziboev. The longtime MMA LAB team member had won five fights in a row prior to that. With the addition, the UFC on ESPN 72 lineup includes:
