Lobov Demands Release If Tukhugov Is Cut

If Zubaira Tukhugov is fired from the UFC for his role in the UFC 229 brawl, Artem Lobov will follow him to the ends of the earth to have their fight.

Lobov and Tukhugov were set to fight at UFC Fight Night 138 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, this Saturday night, re-scheduled from UFC 229. Following Tukhugov’s attack of McGregor following his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, Tukhugov would be pulled from the Moncton card and now has his UFC career hanging in the balance.

If Dana White goes through with his plan to release the featherweight, Lobov is demanding he be released as well, so he can get his hands on him.

“If they cut him, I want to be gone as well,” Lobov said on The Ariel Helwani MMA Show (via ESPN). “I will fight him in ACB, Bellator or any league he wants to do it. But I will get him. It has to be done inside the Octagon. I want to look this man in the eyes, one-on-one. Once you’re inside that Octagon, it’s one-on-one. Your skill versus his skill. Your heart versus his heart. I want to test his heart in the Octagon. I want to see what he’s got.”

Lobov adds his name Khabib Nurmagomedov’s on the list of fighters who threaten to quit of Tukhugov is released from his contract.

Replacing Tukhugov in Moncton is Michael Jackson, and Lobov while not happy about the circumstances, is ready to return to the Octagon.

“I’m only doing this (against Johnson) because I was already ready to go and I haven’t fought in a year,” Lobov said. “For many reasons, I have to take this fight. But make no mistake, I want Zubaira,” he added.

”We need this win, but I don’t feel the pressure. To me, this is one step closer to getting Zubaira back. There is nothing else on my mind. That’s the only thing I can even think of. I’m not going to rest, I’m not going to sleep, until I get him back.”

Initial Report: ESPN