Gallery Artem Lobov def. Paulie Malignaggi at BKFC 6: Best photos view 15 images

So maybe that Conor McGregor sparring footage was legit after all.

In a grudge match a couple years in the making, Paulie Malignaggi squared off with Artem Lobov in what was by far the most heavily hyped bout in the brief history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Malignaggi talked plenty of trash in the lead-up to the bout in Tampa, Fla. with McGregor’s buddy and training partner. But when the duo finally got into the ring, the bout was a tactical affair.

The retired former WBA welterweight and IBF junior welterweight champion looked like he didn’t have much left to give, as Lobov came on strong in the second half of the fight and rallied to take a unanimous decision. The judges’ scores were 48-47 across the board.

“John Sullivan, 1882, the first Irishman to become bare-knuckle champion, and that is what is best,” said the adopted Irishman by way of Russia. “Bare-knuckle world champion, I’m bringing it back.”

The opening round was a tossup, as Lobov, who was at a reach disadvantage, found himself punching air as he tried to figure out his range. Malignaggi, for his part, used his footwork and speed, but never got any real offense untracked.

Malignaggi had his best round in the second, as he cut Lobov open with his most sustained offense in the fight.

After the bout, Malignaggi said that he likely broke his hand in the second round, and that showed in the third, as he all but stopped throwing with the hand. Lobov, for his part, still had a tough time chasing Malignaggi down, but he did connect with a left hand that was just off from being a bullseye, but still sent Malignaggi spinning away.

Lobov picked up the pace in round four, initiating exchanges and getting a rise out of the crowd, then landing with dirty boxing in the clinch. He was also the aggressor in round five, as Malignaggi had little to show.

And that was enough for a journeyman MMA fighter, who was cut from the UFC, to take the decision from a two-time former boxing world champion.

The issue between Malignaggi and Lobov stemmed from Malignaggi’s stint as a sparring partner with McGregor in the leadup to McGregor’s August 2017 boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

A carefully selected clip of McGregor dropping Malignaggi was leaked to maximum effect in the lead-up to the bout. Malignaggi vigorously protested the editing of the clip and was all over the media trying to get a fight with McGregor.

While that never happened, Malignaggi got the next best thing in a fight with McGregor’s friend. In the buildup, he spit on Lobov during a press conference and insulted MMA fans.

But the two showed respect during the fight, and Lobov declared the beef over afterwards.

“You know to me, there are many people who talk a lot of (expletive), and then they don’t show up,” Lobov said. “Paulie shows up. You can like him or hate him, but in terms of a fighter, he showed up tonight to fight.”

Malignaggi, for his part, appeared to be in disbelief over the result.

“Maybe this wasn’t meant to be,” Malignaggi said. “A lot of people in boxing said ‘You shouldn’t do this. You’re a two-time world champion. This is beneath you.'”

BKFC 6 took place at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.

BKFC 6 results:

Artem Lobov def. Paulie Malignaggi via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

Dakota Cochrane def. Chris Leben via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

Johnny Bedford def. Reggie Barnett Jr. via unanimous decision (47-45, 47-45, 48-44) – to win BKFC and Police Gazette lightweight titles

Julian Lane def. Tom Shoaff via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)

Joey Beltran def. Jamie Campbell via knockout – Round 2, 1:50

Walber Barros vs. Joe Riggs declared a unanimous draw (47-47, 47-47, 47-47)

Abdiel Velazquez def. Travis Thompson via unanimous decision (49-46 48-47 50-45)

Jim Alers def. Elvin Brito via knockout – Round 1, 0:45

Chris Boffil def. Jared Hayes via TKO – Round 3, 1:55

David Mundell def. Drew Lipton via knockout – Round 1, 1:35

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