Ex-UFC featherweight Artem Lobov explains why he is one of the most successful fighters today, based on his own definition.
Former UFC featherweight Artem Lobov does not exactly have a very attractive win-loss slate. With a record of 13-15-1 (1 NC), he went 2-5 in his three-year UFC run, before being released from the company a week ago.
“The Russian Hammer,” however, is still proud of his accomplishments, based on his own definition of success.
“What do you call success in our sport? What determines success? Are you successful if you are 10-0 and no one is watching your fights? Is that success? Trust me, your bank account will say otherwise,” Lobov said on Monday’s episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN (transcript via MMA Mania).
“Now that I’ve been in this sport for so long, I know this now more than ever what success is, it’s how many people are watching your fights. If no one is watching, it doesn’t matter what else you are achieving, you are not successful.
“If people are watching your fights and they care about what you do then that is success to me. As far as I’m concerned, I am one of the most successful fighters in the world.”
Lobov is currently shopping around for his next career opportunity, but he is confident that he will be able to make an impact on the promotion company he will be signed to.
“If someone wants to offer me a seven-digit number right now, I am happy to sign straight away and let’s call it a day. Forget all the discussions we can have,” he said. “‘The Russian Hammer’ will make all of your fans scream for whatever organization decides to do that.”
The 32-year-old SBG Dublin fighter last saw action in October against fellow TUF alum Michael Johnson. He lost via unanimous decision.