It’s been an incredible few days for Straight Blast Gym (SBG) Ireland following Conor McGregor’s history-making night at UFC 205 in New York City's Madison Square Garden. This weekend, Artem Lobov will be looking to keep the good vibes going when he faces Teruto Ishihara at UFC Fight Night 99 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Not being with Team McGregor in New York

Speaking exclusively to FloCombat earlier today, the Russian-born Irishman spoke about his previous week and what it had been like to watch his friend compete on a TV screen at home instead of being in his corner like he’d become accustomed to.   

“I really wanted to be there, but after talking and consideration with John [Kavanagh] and Conor himself, there was no point in me being there,” Lobov said. “It was his last week, and there was going to be loads of media obligations, so it was going to be hard for me to find the time to train and also do the weight cut with the travel.

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“That’s why I wasn’t there, but I made sure my training was on point, and I’m ready to go. Even without the travel, the weight cut is hard enough. Being on that plane with all those people, smelling the food and you can’t have anything and being in New York as well, it’s not that warm. You are always freezing with all the water loading. I wouldn’t have had the right training partners as well, so it would’ve been very difficult."

Something in common with Eddie Alvarez

Prior to his fight with McGregor, Eddie Alvarez accused Lobov of being the Irishman’s “punching bag." Now that the American has felt the force of the Irishman himself, Lobov thinks that they now share a least one thing in common.

“Alvarez can say that now,” Lobov said with a smile on his face. “He became Conor’s punching bag as well on the night. At least we share that in common now. Look, I know where he was coming from.

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“Post-fight he said he didn’t know where the shots were coming from and how fast Conor was. I knew exactly what he meant, and I’ve been there many, many times so I feel you, Eddie. I feel you brother."

Mystic Artem

Having stayed at home in Dublin, Lobov feels he has prepared well for his Japanese opponent on Saturday night and is looking forward to performing in front of the Belfast crowd.

“I feel there is going to be a few wild exchanges,” Lobov said. “If I don’t catch him in the first then the pressure will get to him and he will tire out and be slower in the second and I will catch him then. At the end of round two it will be all over him.”

The whole crew is coming – including McGregor 

While Lobov may not have been able to join the SBG crew out in New York last week, the ​The Ultimate Fighter ​Season 22 finalist confirmed that the team would be making their way to him in Belfast, including the UFC's first ever two-weight world champion.

“Peter Queally is here with me now,” Lobov said. “He has always been with me, and he always helps me with these camps. He is a very good training partner and a very good fighter himself so it’s good to have him in my corner.

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“Then on Thursday, Owen Roddy and John Kavanagh get back from New York so they will be here. Then Conor is obviously coming to watch my fight as well so I will have the whole squad, the dream team.”

Finding peace inside the Octagon

With his whole team at his side, the rest is up to Lobov on Saturday night. Having gone 1-2 in his UFC career so far, you might have thought the SBG man would be feeling the pressure heading into his bout this week, If you did, you are sorely mistaken.

“I love to fight. I truly love to fight,” Lobov said. “I always talk about this—there is no better place for me than inside that Octagon.  It is my favorite place on earth and it is the most peaceful place on earth. I want to get as many fights as I can and as many knockouts as I can get.”

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