Artem Lobov: The Bare Knuckle Pioneer
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Artem Lobov |
| Nickname | "The Russian Hammer" |
| Born | August 11, 1986 |
| Birthplace | Gorky, Russian SFSR (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia) |
| Resides | Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Russian-Irish |
| MMA Record | 13-15-1 (1 NC) |
| UFC Record | 2-5 |
| Bare Knuckle Record | 2-2 |
| Gym | SBG Ireland (John Kavanagh) |
| Notable Wins | Paulie Malignaggi, Jason Knight |
| Notable Losses | Jason Knight (rematch), Denys Berinchyk |
| Promotions | UFC, BKFC, Mahatch FC |
| Status | Retired |
Overview
Artem Lobov's combat sports resume does not read like a champion's. A 13-15-1 MMA record. A 2-5 run inside the UFC. A 2-2 bare knuckle record that ended with a retirement-inducing loss in a Ukrainian sandbag ring. By the cold metrics of wins and losses, Lobov was a journeyman.
But those numbers miss the point entirely.
Lobov is one of the most important figures in the history of bare knuckle fighting. Not because of what he won, but because of what he brought: legitimacy, attention, and mainstream media coverage that BKFC could not have bought at any price. When Lobov signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in February 2019, he was the first credible UFC name to make the jump. His presence -- and the spectacle of his rivalry with former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi -- generated more media attention for bare knuckle fighting in a single night than the sport had received in the preceding century.
The Lobov-Malignaggi fight at BKFC 6 was a landmark event. It proved that bare knuckle boxing could attract mainstream stars, generate mainstream coverage, and sell to a mainstream audience. Every UFC veteran, every former world champion, and every celebrity crossover fighter who has since signed with BKFC owes a debt to Lobov for being the first one through the door.
Career
From Russia to Dublin
Artem Lobov was born on August 11, 1986, in Gorky, Russian SFSR. At 16, he emigrated to Ireland, where he enrolled at Dublin City University, earning a bachelor's degree in Business Studies and Spanish and later a Master of Science in Finance and Capital Markets. He worked an entry-level position at Bank of America in Dublin before combat sports changed his trajectory.
Lobov began training at 21, discovering jiu-jitsu and boxing at a gym where a Polish boxing club shared space with a grappling program. His commitment caught the eye of coaches who directed him to SBG Ireland -- Straight Blast Gym, run by John Kavanagh. There, Lobov met a young Irish featherweight named Conor McGregor. The two trained together daily, and that partnership would define Lobov's public identity for the rest of his career.
The UFC Years
Lobov made his professional MMA debut in November 2010 with Cage Warriors and lost to Patrick Vickers by unanimous decision. His path to the UFC came through The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber in 2015. Lobov lost his preliminary bout, but coach McGregor used his privilege to bring Lobov back.
What followed was remarkable: Lobov knocked out three consecutive opponents -- James Jenkins, Chris Gruetzemacher, and Julian Erosa -- to reach the TUF 22 finale, joining an elite group as only the fourth fighter in TUF history to achieve three knockout victories in a single season. He lost the finale to Ryan Hall by unanimous decision but earned a UFC contract.
Inside the Octagon, Lobov compiled a 2-5 record. The numbers were not flattering, but he earned a "Fight of the Night" bonus and became a fan favorite for his forward-charging, never-back-down style. On January 29, 2019, the UFC released him. His next move would prove far more consequential than anything he had done inside the Octagon.
BKFC: Opening the Door
Within weeks of his release, Lobov signed a three-fight, six-figure contract with BKFC -- the first fighter with legitimate UFC credentials to do so.
BKFC 5 -- Jason Knight (April 6, 2019): Lobov's bare knuckle debut headlined the card against fellow former UFC fighter Jason Knight. Both men traded heavy shots over five rounds, with Lobov earning a unanimous decision in a bout later named BKFC's "Fight of the Year."
BKFC 6 -- Paulie Malignaggi (June 22, 2019): The fight that changed everything for bare knuckle boxing. The backstory was irresistible: Malignaggi, a former two-division boxing world champion, had been a sparring partner for McGregor ahead of the Floyd Mayweather fight. Leaked sparring footage and mutual animosity created a grudge match the combat sports world demanded.
Malignaggi boxed effectively early, landing crisp jabs and a powerful right hand. But Lobov's forward pressure and volume gradually turned the tide. By rounds three through five, Lobov was dictating the pace. The judges scored it 48-47 across all three cards -- unanimous decision for Lobov. He threw 155 punches and landed 73 (47.1 percent); Malignaggi threw 106 and landed 63 (59.4 percent). Lobov won on work rate, not accuracy.
The significance of that night cannot be overstated. It was covered by ESPN, CBS Sports, and every major MMA outlet. David Feldman, BKFC's founder, has cited the card as the moment BKFC went from a curiosity to a real promotion.
BKFC 9 -- Jason Knight II (November 16, 2019): The rematch went the other way. Knight won by TKO via corner stoppage in the fifth round. It was a brutal, bloody fight, and Knight's late surge was too much for Lobov to survive.
Mahatch FC: The Final Chapter
On July 24, 2021, Lobov faced Denys Berinchyk at Mahatch FC in Kyiv, Ukraine. Berinchyk was a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and future WBO lightweight champion -- a nightmare matchup for a career MMA fighter with limited boxing credentials.
The fight played out accordingly. Berinchyk's technical superiority was evident from the start. He dropped Lobov in the third and fourth rounds. After the fourth, Lobov's corner did not let him continue. The fight was over, and so was the career.
"I'm done," Lobov said. The Mahatch sandbag ring -- where fighters competed in jeans and sneakers -- was the final stop on a journey from the banks of the Volga to the gyms of Dublin to the brightest stages in combat sports.
Fighting Style
Lobov was never a technically gifted fighter. His game was built on toughness, forward pressure, and an iron chin. In bare knuckle boxing, without the threat of takedowns and submissions, those attributes translated more effectively than in MMA. His best performances -- the first Knight fight and the Malignaggi bout -- showcased a fighter who won through volume and willingness to stay in the pocket.
His power was legitimate at the bare knuckle level, and the closer fighting distance offset his famously short reach. But against skilled boxers -- Knight in the rematch and Berinchyk at Mahatch -- Lobov's forward pressure could be timed and countered. He lacked the footwork to cut off the ring and the defensive skills to avoid clean counters.
But fighting style was never really the point of Artem Lobov. The point was that he showed up.
Notable Fights
Artem Lobov vs. Jason Knight I (BKFC 5 -- April 6, 2019)
Lobov's bare knuckle debut and BKFC's "Fight of the Year." Both former UFC fighters went to war over five rounds, with Lobov winning by unanimous decision.
Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi (BKFC 6 -- June 22, 2019)
The fight that put bare knuckle boxing on the map. Lobov defeated the former two-division boxing world champion by unanimous decision (48-47 x3), generating unprecedented mainstream coverage for BKFC.
Artem Lobov vs. Jason Knight II (BKFC 9 -- November 16, 2019)
Knight won the rematch by TKO via corner stoppage in the fifth round, ending Lobov's winning streak.
Artem Lobov vs. Denys Berinchyk (Mahatch FC -- July 24, 2021)
Lobov's final fight. The Olympic silver medalist dropped him in the third and fourth rounds, and Lobov's corner stopped the fight. Lobov retired immediately afterward.
Legacy
Artem Lobov's legacy is paradoxical. By conventional metrics he was unremarkable. But legacy is not always about what you win. Sometimes it is about what you start.
Lobov was the first credible UFC name to cross over to bare knuckle. His presence brought cameras, journalists, and casual fans who had never heard of bare knuckle boxing. The Malignaggi fight generated buzz that promotions spend millions trying to manufacture. After Lobov proved a UFC fighter could cross over and generate mainstream attention, the floodgates opened. Paige VanZant signed. Mike Perry signed. The list of former UFC fighters who followed Lobov into bare knuckle grows every year. In 2024, Conor McGregor himself purchased a stake in BKFC, completing a circle that began with his training partner's decision to fight without gloves.
Lobov's Mahatch FC appearance also holds historical significance -- one of the highest-profile events in the Ukrainian promotion's brief history before the Russian invasion effectively shut it down.
Beyond bare knuckle, Lobov's story carries broader resonance. A Russian immigrant who moved to Ireland at 16, earned two university degrees, worked in banking, and chose to pursue fighting against every rational calculation of risk. "On purpose I didn't sign up for social welfare," Lobov has said. "I wanted to burn all my sh*t. I wanted to set up a do-or-die situation."
He was never the most talented fighter in any room. He was frequently the most willing. And in the early days of bare knuckle boxing, when the sport needed someone to step forward and show the world it was real, Lobov's willingness was exactly what the moment demanded. The Russian Hammer did not build bare knuckle boxing. But he opened the door that everyone else walked through.
FAQ
Why is Artem Lobov important to bare knuckle boxing?
Lobov was the first credible UFC fighter to sign with BKFC, bringing mainstream media attention at a critical growth stage. His fight with Paulie Malignaggi at BKFC 6 generated unprecedented coverage and proved the sport's commercial viability. The wave of UFC crossover fighters who followed -- Paige VanZant, Mike Perry, and others -- walked the path Lobov pioneered.
Was Artem Lobov really Conor McGregor's training partner?
Yes. Lobov trained at SBG Ireland alongside McGregor from the early stages of both careers. McGregor used his coach's save to bring Lobov back on TUF 22 after a preliminary loss. Their relationship was instrumental in the marketing of the Malignaggi fight.
What happened in the Lobov vs. Malignaggi fight?
Lobov won by unanimous decision (48-47 x3) at BKFC 6 on June 22, 2019. Malignaggi boxed effectively early but faded as Lobov's forward pressure and volume accumulated. Lobov threw 155 punches, landing 73 (47.1%); Malignaggi threw 106, landing 63 (59.4%).
Why did Artem Lobov retire?
Lobov retired after losing to Denys Berinchyk at Mahatch FC in Kyiv on July 24, 2021. Berinchyk, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and future WBO lightweight champion, dropped Lobov twice before the corner stoppage.
Where is Artem Lobov from?
Born in Gorky, Russian SFSR (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia) on August 11, 1986. He moved to Dublin, Ireland, at 16, attended Dublin City University, and trained at SBG Ireland throughout his career.
What is Mahatch FC?
Mahatch FC was a Ukrainian bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Kyiv, where fighters competed in jeans and sneakers inside a sandbag ring. Lobov's fight with Berinchyk was one of its highest-profile events. Mahatch ceased operations after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.