On April 3, 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his entourage cornered Conor McGregor’s close friend and training partner, Artem Lobov, in Brooklyn. The heated confrontation stemmed from Lobov’s past remarks, and though no punches were thrown, the Dagestani made his message crystal clear. Just two days later, on April 5, a furious McGregor flew in from Ireland with his crew and stormed a fighter bus carrying Nurmagomedov, Michael Chiesa, Rose Namajunas, and others. Chaos erupted as McGregor hurled a metal trolley at the window, injuring Chiesa and Ray Borg, forcing both to withdraw from their fights. Namajunas was also shaken, nearly pulling out of her title defense. Years later, a UFC insider confirmed a key detail: despite the drama, Khabib never actually slapped Lobov. Let’s revisit the chaos at the Barclays Center that sparked one of the UFC’s most bitter rivalries.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen discussed the incident that occurred in April 2018 and stated that many things could have been avoided if the situation had been a bit clearer. Amidst this, he added that Nurmagomedov never actually slapped Lobov — it was merely a shoulder shrug.
“I did not really think that Khabib slapped Artem. I know Artem, and I don’t think that Artem felt that he was slapped. I think that Khabib came up and, in talking to him—you know, guys will kind of grab each other—and he kind of grabbed him. It was almost a nice embrace. That would be very open for interpretation, but almost, I think that Khabib was kind of trying to pull him in,” said Sonnen.
He further added, “He kind of pulled him forehead to forehead. He kind of lowered his voice so other people didn’t hear. But there was a moment—there was a moment. It’s called a collar tie. There was a moment when Khabib grabbed him, that Artem pulled back. But outside of that pullback, it was actually far closer to an embrace.”
This is a repeat of his statement from late 2022, where Sonnen claimed, “I don’t think Khabib slapped him. I think Khabib said ‘hello’ to him… Slap is instant. But the removal of slap is instant (too). Khabib put his hand there, but he kept it there. He was looking him (Artem) in the eye like he was trying to talk to him.” Well, not so fast, Chael.
Lobov had previously said, “Who is chicken here? Who is afraid? Conor shows up every time no matter what. He’s a true fighter, he’s a true champion. Champion isn’t just belt around your waist, it’s mentality, it’s your heart. Conor is a real champion and Khabib is not even close.” This is what prompted the response from Khabib, who, when confronting Lobov, was heard saying, “Don’t say my name, you understand me? You got it or not? I’m asking you…Say it to my face. You said I’m a p***y? Did you? How you didn’t say? Don’t say such things anymore.” The controversial little slap occurred after this exchange.
If we take a closer look at the video, we can see that Khabib Nurmagomedov did attempt to slap Artem Lobov, but Lobov shrugged, and the slap may not have really connected. Regardless, shortly after the incident, Conor McGregor flew in to confront Khabib and settle the score.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA AUGUST 18, 2021: Russian mixed martial artist and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov gives a news conference. Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxONLY TS10CE3D
After the dust settled, ‘Mystic Mac’ turned himself in to the NYPD later that same day. Conor McGregor was eventually charged with three cases of assault and one count of criminal mischief. His punishment? No jailtime, 5 days of community service, required to attend anger management classes, and repayment of the damages. Whether he slapped him or not was never the real question—it was always about the message. McGregor never likes it when his opponents get inside his head, and Nurmagomedov might have done just that when he confronted Artem Lobov. But the biggest twist in the story came when all of McGregor’s reaction proved to be in vain.
Conor McGregor’s friendship with Artem Lobov never sustained
Conor McGregor may have fought to defend his friend and save face, but he ultimately failed to maintain a good relationship with Artem Lobov. Why? Let’s go back to the origins. In 2018, McGregor launched ‘Proper No. Twelve’ whiskey, which achieved significant commercial success. In 2021, McGregor and his co-founders sold their majority stake in the brand to Proximo Spirits for a reported $600 million, with McGregor personally earning around $150 million from the deal.
Lobov claimed he helped develop Conor McGregor’s whiskey brand and was promised 5% of the profits—around $30 million—but says he never received any payment. In November 2022, he sued McGregor in the Dublin High Court for his share. McGregor had reportedly offered $1 million before the whiskey took off, which Lobov rejected.
After the fallout, their relationship soured through the years. What’s more, McGregor suffered a humiliating loss at the hands of Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. As of 2025, McGregor and Lobov are involved in ongoing legal disputes, and their so-called friendship is in the rear-view mirror now. Regardless, what are your thoughts on the hubbub? State your opinion in the comments below.
The post Years After UFC’s Biggest Altercation, Insider Claims Khabib Nurmagomedov Never Slapped Conor McGregor’s Then-Teammate appeared first on EssentiallySports.