Lobov: Now that Conor McGregor’s out, I’m featherweight’s hardest hitter by a long shot

Conor McGregor’s sparring partner Artem Lobov boasted about his punching power at featherweight.

Artem Lobov is a TUF veteran more known for being a primary sparring partner of two-division champion Conor McGregor. He is coming off two straight victories, and will headline his first UFC event against number 4 ranked featherweight Cub Swanson.

Despite Swanson having faced some of the best featherweights throughout the years, Lobov says he will never have fought anyone who had his immense punching power. In fact, Lobov boasts that McGregor and him used to hold the distinction of being the two most powerful guys in the division.

“(Swanson) comes in, he’s very open, he throws wild shots, and he has never, I promise you, in his life felt power that I have,” Lobov told MMA Fighting. “Even against Aldo, Aldo doesn’t have that kind of power in his hands, no chance.

“He would land those leg kicks, and then the shot would come from there, but in terms of his hands, he doesn’t have, I mean he has power, of course he does, but nowhere near the power that I have, I promise you that,” he said. “Now that Conor is gone from the division, I’m the hardest hitter of the division by a long shot.”

Lobov, who is currently unranked, will be headlining against Swanson in a bout he considers as his “chance” to prove he belongs in the top 10. He has also responded to criticism saying that he only gets opportunities in the UFC because he is a teammate of McGregor.

“For me it’s my biggest sporting achievement being Conor McGregor’s sparring partner,” he said. “This is not an easy sport to be in, and many have tried to be in this sport and failed. I’m not in this sport because I’m good looking or whatever, I’m in this port because I’m the toughest motherf—er around.”

Conor McGregor’s sparring partner Artem Lobov boasted about his punching power at featherweight.

Artem Lobov is a TUF veteran more known for being a primary sparring partner of two-division champion Conor McGregor. He is coming off two straight victories, and will headline his first UFC event against number 4 ranked featherweight Cub Swanson.

Despite Swanson having faced some of the best featherweights throughout the years, Lobov says he will never have fought anyone who had his immense punching power. In fact, Lobov boasts that McGregor and him used to hold the distinction of being the two most powerful guys in the division.

“(Swanson) comes in, he’s very open, he throws wild shots, and he has never, I promise you, in his life felt power that I have,” Lobov told MMA Fighting. “Even against Aldo, Aldo doesn’t have that kind of power in his hands, no chance.

“He would land those leg kicks, and then the shot would come from there, but in terms of his hands, he doesn’t have, I mean he has power, of course he does, but nowhere near the power that I have, I promise you that,” he said. “Now that Conor is gone from the division, I’m the hardest hitter of the division by a long shot.”

Lobov, who is currently unranked, will be headlining against Swanson in a bout he considers as his “chance” to prove he belongs in the top 10. He has also responded to criticism saying that he only gets opportunities in the UFC because he is a teammate of McGregor.

“For me it’s my biggest sporting achievement being Conor McGregor’s sparring partner,” he said. “This is not an easy sport to be in, and many have tried to be in this sport and failed. I’m not in this sport because I’m good looking or whatever, I’m in this port because I’m the toughest motherf—er around.”