ARTEM LOBOV WILL be fighting next weekend at UFC Fight Night 138, but the Straight Blast Gym featherweight has officially been given a new opponent.
Lobov (13-14-1) will share the octagon with former Ultimate Fighter runner-up Michael Johnson (18-13) on Saturday week in Moncton, Canada. The fight will serve as the co-main event on a card that will be headlined by the meeting of Volkan Oezdemir and Anthony Smith.
Zubaira Tukhugov was originally scheduled to be Lobov’s opponent. However, the UFC have confirmed that Tukhugov has been removed from the booking as a result of an ongoing investigation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
It relates to the brawl that marred Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent victory over Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. In the midst of the chaos, footage appeared to show Tukhugov — a team-mate of Nurmagomedov’s — climbing into the octagon before striking McGregor.
Tukhugov later took to social media to boast about the incident. He said: “I slapped him [McGregor] as promised. I promised to make him answer for his words and I did.”
The controversy has now cost Tukhugov his first fight since May 2016. The 27-year-old Chechen recently completed a two-year suspension which was handed down by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine.
Nurmagomedov threatened to quit the UFC if Tukhugov was subjected to punishment for his involvement in the post-fight mayhem at UFC 229. However, Dana White, the organisation’s president, played down that prospect this week.
Lobov, a training partner of Conor McGregor’s at SBG in Dublin, will be fighting for the seventh time under the UFC banner. He’ll seek to avoid a third consecutive loss.
After back-to-back lightweight defeats to current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, Johnson made his featherweight debut in January but suffered a second-round submission defeat to Darren Elkins.
He rebounded in August with a split-decision victory over Andre Fili. Lobov’s most recent outing — in October of last year — was also against Fili, but the Russian-born 32-year-old came up short on the scorecards.
Johnson has recorded several significant victories during his time with the UFC, overcoming the likes of Dustin Poirier, Edson Barboza and leading lightweight contender Tony Ferguson since making his debut in 2010.
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Probably a smart decision to move Larmour into 14 and let him build a bit of confidence after his last few poor outings at fullback. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out from an Irish rugby point of view over this season and whether Leinster will keep him on the wing or move him into fullback. You’d have to say at the moment between him and Keenan that Hugo looks more like the international. I’d like to see him involved in the upcoming Irish camps in some capacity.
Would you like some sauce to go with that chip on your shoulder?
@Rudiger McMonihan: larmour is the new target from the munster fans. They always need one.
@Rudiger McMonihan: you’d need a put a bucket on his shoulder for the amount of sauce he’d need !!
@Chris Mc: his own team hasn’t won a trophy in a decade and he’s on here pontificating about poor full back play.
@Jim Demps: cmon now, already spoiling the comments section, Larmour is the future.
@Jim Demps: Ah now Jim. You should know better than to criticise any of the Leinster lads. Everyone knows they are by far the best team in the world.
@Decko49: its pi$$ed me off seeing stockdales defence criticised when he had to tackle the most agile winger in the world with a 4 on 1 overlap. It’s not just about leinster. I hate all this begrudgery going on. We’ll never move past our conservative dull tactics if every mistake causes the trolls to come out and attack players. Journalists and pundits are just as bad at it. They know they have to say something and they know a lot of fans love to hear them moan, so they take the easy route and pile on players who are actually playing well overall but may have made one or two mistakes. In Larmours case the only questionable performance was the 1st game which was after 5 months off and most of his missed catches were due to his team mates blocking him from actually getting to it.
@Rudiger McMonihan: My comment was tongue in cheek to be honest. Sorry about that. I don’t entirely agree with your view. I do think he’s a great player but I agree with jim he’s low in confidence.
Fullback is a thankless job usually a missed tackle from a fullback is the result of someone else’s missed tackle leading to a 2 on 1. Sure, it looks bad in the fullback wjen it happens but realistically it’s not entirely their fault. High ball can be worked on as well
@Chris Mc: you are no one to talk, all over munster articles yesterday giving out about a selection that hasn’t even happened
@Dave O Keeffe: but Dave I don’t think any one munster player is over rated, I think about 10 of them are.
Very smart selection. Switching keenan and larmour firstly was an obvious one.
Putting Frawley into midfield should bring a bit of creativity.
Gibson-Park, the best 9 leinstet have being selected to start.
Then Ruddock coming into a pack that lacked power.
Good management it has to be said.
That’s a really good side. Love frawley and sexton at 10/12. These 2 with any sort of decent ball from the pack will create all sorts of opportunities for Ringrose, Lowe larmour and keenan.
The sooner Irish rugby realises Conway is the best available full back we have the better for all concerned! Keep Lamour away from 15
@Kieran Dorgan: Conway doesn’t and hasn’t played fullback for munster. There’s a massive step up from playing in the pro 14 to international rugby then add a different position? If munster realise that 15 is his best position and play him there maybe he could step up.
@Chris Mc: I agree with you 100%. At the end of the day what do we know other than Rob Kearneys replacement hasn’t been found!
@Chris Mc: Its too late to say it now, but when zebo left comway should have been moved to fullback straight away.
There was no need to bring in haley, who at best is a solid player.
@Kieran Dorgan: you will be disappointed I feel. Larmour is fantastic.
@Kieran Dorgan: this is a Leinster 15, not a Irish or Munster 15. Leo picks his squad in a leinster mindset, rotation, blooding new players and mix/match guys. Your point is??
The Irish 15 jersey is wide open now. Daly Conway Keenan Larmour Lowry?
@Jamie Bent: Stockdale, will get it.
@Gareth Ward: Ye Stockdale is massively out of form and that seems to be what Farrell goes for.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Haha well there’s no in form 15 lad. So with a good number of wingers moving one who can play 15 to fullback makes sense. So i would edge stockdale in ahead of larmour. Larmour who is no better or worse form than stockdale
That is some squad. It will be good to have another look at Frawley playing 12. Great to see Ruddock back. That bench has incredible ball carrying capability. Looking forward to this.
Some selection. The Dragons will be on the sore end of a beating I think. Leinster by 15+.
I think it’s the right decision to move Larmour to the wing for now until he gains more confidence under the high ball. Future should still definitely be at full back though in my opinion
Larmour hasn’t been good at full recently, think he will be super on the wing,speed and sidestep, looking forward to seeing him.
I wonder how Harry Byrne would go at fullback. Looks to have all the attributes to do a great job there.