Artem Lobov: “I’m a Matchmaker’s Dream”

When Artem Lobov was given a second chance on The Ultimate Fighter: Team USA vs Team Europe he repaid the faith that was put in him by recording three consecutive knockouts, which in turn booked him a place in the finale of the event back in December.

Ryan Hall nullified 'The Russian Hammer' on December 11 in the Cosmopolitan to claim The Ultimate Fighter honor. However, based on how Lobov reacted to being given a second chance in the TUF House, it's no real surprise that he is set for another Octagon outing at UFC 196.

A proven knockout artist in the lighter weight ranks, Lobov has long been known on the European scene for taking on all comers at a variety of weight classes. Recently when one of his teammates sat down and did the calculations, they found that Lobov had competed on an average of every 41 days since he went pro back in 2010.

Although his official record wears the scars of his enthusiasm when it comes to fighting, Lobov is well aware that he has a few key characteristics that make him "a matchmaker's dream".

"There are few guys in the UFC in general that you know can knock people out," he said. "Conor does it constantly. Other people get a knockout every now and then, but there is no one else really that knocks people out one after another like I did on TUF. I think I'm going to be a huge asset for the UFC in terms of my style, my knockout power and everything.

"I'm a matchmaker's dream. I'll fight anyone, I always make the weight and I knock people out. How long are my conversations with matchmakers? One word. I say 'yes', and that's it."

Slated for a featherweight bout against Alex 'The Spartan' White on February 6, Lobov is adamant that he has no long term plans to stay at 145 lbs. As he sees it, knockouts allow you to "dictate who you fight", and Lobov clearly believes he will be recording a stoppage against White as the conversation quickly turned to another man he has in his crosshairs, top welterweight contender, Matt Brown.

The two engaged in an online back and forth after Dominick Cruz's win over Brown's teammate TJ Dillashaw and Lobov insisted that he would have no problem moving up to 170 lbs to face 'The Immortal'.

"When you're knocking people out in the UFC you can dictate who you fight. Right now I've got my eyes on Matt Brown. The guy has been talking a bit of shit. He was being disrespectful to Dominick Cruz. I didn't like that.

"He basically came out and said 'TJ won the fight four rounds to one at least'. I saw him whining about Cruz not winning a single round. That is so disrespectful when you think about the amount that Cruz has been through. He's a great champion. He never lost that belt. You have to beat a champion to be a champion and TJ didn't beat the champion.

"Dominick is the real champion, he never lost that belt. I just told the truth, I told Brown, 'you're getting paid to be TJ's training partner, so don't disrespect Dominic Cruz'. He didn't seem to like that, so who knows? I'll knock Mr. White out and then Matt Brown could be next.

"It would be a good fight. I will definitely show up every time, no matter who the challenge is against or what weight class they are in. I will be there as I always have been, ready to kill prepared to die."

As if he already sees some more spats on the horizon, Lobov wouldn't set any plans in stone as to who he might call out should he have his hand raised in Las Vegas in 12 days' time.

"You never know, the fight is still two weeks away. A lot can happen in two weeks, so you never know, we'll see what happens."

The Dublin-based former ballroom dancer also gave his take on how he felt Conor McGregor's press conference antics last week. According to Lobov, the fact that 'The Notorious' was "speaking the truth" to Dos Anjos is why the lightweight champion became so "frustrated" with the whole situation.

"When you tell people some facts, somewhere in their mind they know that you're speaking the truth. They get lost, they don't know where to go from there and that's exactly what happened with Dos Anjos.

"Conor told him the facts. He does live in the States, his kids do have American names and they do have to book him a hotel in his hometown. I mean, I haven't been back in Russia in 15 years and I still have an apartment there! I don't need a hotel, I'll always have a place to stay and I haven't been back there since I was 14.

"Dos Anjos just moved to America and now all of a sudden he's an American, so I can see why he got frustrated with that."