Up and Artem – Hammer has nailed deal

Artem Lobov has a UFC bout agreement in his back pocket.

And with a world champion as his sparring partner, he reckons Alex White does not stand a chance when the featherweights meet at UFC 196 in Las Vegas next month.

The Straight Blast Gym man’s last appearance inside the Octagon was in The Ultimate Fighter finale in Las Vegas on December 11.

American Ryan Hall used his grappling skills to great effect and pulled off a comprehensive decision win, the judges scoring it 30-26, 30-26, 30-27.

UFC president Dana White was not impressed with the spectacle and some wondered if Lobov would be given a fight with the promotion again.

But ‘The Russian Hammer’ (12-11-1) told SunSport: “I was told pretty much right away that I would have another shot.

“I wasn’t happy with the fight. I was disappointed as that’s not how I wanted it to go down.

“It was hard to prepare for someone like Ryan. He didn’t throw a single punch.

“It’s hard to prepare for his unconventional style.”

Lobov’s bout with White (10-2) represents a different stylistic match-up for the former Bank of America employee.

‘The Spartan’ uses his array of striking skills and although he has a good submission game, takedowns are not his forte.

White’s last bout was in December 2014.

He was supposed to fight when the UFC visited the Philippines last May, but suffered an upper body injury in training and pulled out.

The Missiouri native has one win and two losses with the UFC, though he took two of those bouts at late notice. And Lobov — a sparring partner of Conor McGregor — is happy to come up against a game fighter.

He added: “I like the stylistic match-up. He’s a southpaw, he likes to exchange and that’s good for me. I like fighting southpaws.

“People often don’t feel comfortable against them but I happen to have the best southpaw in the world sparring with me on a daily basis in Conor McGregor. I’m well used to southpaws.” Lobov will train with ‘The Notorious’ in Dublin before jetting off to Vegas the week before the fight, which is scheduled for February 6.

The 29-year-old said: “Conor’s always in the gym and I’m always in the gym so I’ll definitely be doing many, many sessions with him over the next month.”

Hardnut Lobov would not be drawn on the length of his deal.

He said: “If you perform well, you’re exciting and entertaining your contract is unlimited. But if you’re losing, your fights are boring, then it’s goodbye.

“When I go in there, I’m going for a knockout. That’s what fans want to see — and I’m happy to deliver.”

Lobov: No Joe Show



IRELAND’S Joe Duffy bids for glory in ­gambling mecca Las Vegas tonight.

But The Ultimate Fighter runner-up Artem Lobov likes the odds on Dustin Poirier.

Ex-boxer Duffy, 27, is the favourite at 8-15, with ‘The Diamond’ available at 6-4.

And Lobov said: “I was on a betting website and the odds on Poirier are great. What people see is, Joe Duffy beat Conor McGregor five years ago.

“And then they saw that Conor beat Poirier in the first round and are thinking, ‘Well Duffy’s definitely going to beat him’.

“But this is a completely different fight.

“If you look at Joe, he never knocked anyone out in boxing.

“He had seven fights against nobodies and didn’t knock one out.

“Before his cancelled bout with Poirier in Dublin last October, he was knocked out in training. That shows me he’s a bit chinny.

“He will exchange with Poirier and this is a very close fight. If I was to call it, I’d say Poirier gets it.”