Russian light featherweight Artem Lobov commented on yesterday's clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov, urging the compatriot to resolve this conflict in a manly manner.
"It turned out to be a very ugly situation: Khabib swooped down on us with the crowd, and before the most important tournament of the year, knowing that I can not afford to hit him and ruin a multi-million fight. Khabib did not act like a man. My interview was done a year ago, and I did not say anything directly to Khabib. This was my response to my brother's statements (Khabib repeatedly called Conor McGregor "a chicken"), where he called him "a rooster". This is a very rude insult, and Khabib himself would have answered if his brother had been called so. I could not help but react.
I did not say anything directly to Khabib. I always responded positively to him, I say and continue to say that he is a good fighter, because he really is.
"This interview was written a year ago, and Khabib had many opportunities to come and talk to me on this topic. We crossed with him repeatedly at the Fight Nights Global tournaments, I was in Moscow for two weeks - we would have met and talked like normal men. But for some reason he waited for the moment when there were only two of us, and flew in a crowd. And now we need to meet once and for all and solve this situation, because it's impossible to behave on such a high level," Lobov said.
It should be added that the interview was recorded before the Lobov team attacked the bus with the participants of UFC 223 tournament, as a result of which Michael Chiesa received a ragged cheek injury. Lobov vs Casares fight was canceled.
