UFC Alum, TUF 22 Finalist Artem Lobov Announces Retirement From Fighting

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

Former UFC featherweight contender and The Ultimate Fighter 22 lightweight tournament finalist, Artem 'The Russian Hammer' Lobov has announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts following a recent bare knuckle boxing match loss to Olympic silver medalist, Denys Berinchyk under the Mahatch FC banner in Kyiv, Ukraine last weekend. 

Following his fourth round stoppage loss to the professional boxer, Lobov explained afterward that he will most likely retire from combat sports with immediate effect, citing a lack of "fire in the heart".

"I knew that Denys (Berincyyk) is a high-class fighter," Lobov said after the loss. "So I wanted to fight him. Why go out (against who) knows who? If I go out, then I try against the strongest and aim for the stars. If it doesn't work out, you'll be close to the moon. Congratulations, Denys, it was a great honour for me to perform here. Most likely, I will (retire). There is no fire in the heart that there used to be." (H/T VMTV.co.uk)

Per a report from MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani this afternoon, Lobov confirmed to him this morning that he would be retiring from professional mixed martial arts with immediate effect.

Lobov, 34, established a 13-15 professional mixed martial arts record from a total 30 professional outings, featuring under the UFC's banner on seven separate occasions. 

The Straight Blast Gym mainstay is also an alum of ACB and leading European promotion, Cage Warriors, 

Returning as an alternate on TUF 22 back in 2015, Lobov rebounded from a preliminary round loss to Mehdi Baghdad to take three consecutive knockout victories over James Jenkins, Chris Gruetzemacher, and Julian Erosa. Appearing in the tournament's lightweight finale, Lobov dropped a unanimous decision defeat to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Ryan Hall. 

In two successful outings under the UFC's banner, the heralded cult figure took a pair of unanimous decision wins over Chris Avila and Teruto Ishihara. Headlining on one occasion, Lobov dropped a unanimous judging Fight of the Night loss to division staple, Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night Nashville back in April of 2017.

Slumping to three consecutive losses to end his Octagon stint, Lobov dropped a trio of decision defeats to Swanson, Andre Fili, and former lightweight contender, Michael Johnson. 

During his professional bare knuckle boxing career, Lobov established a 2-2 record -- featuring twice under the David Feldman-led promotion, BKFC. Debuting with a unanimous decision win over fellow UFC alum, Jason Knight, Lobov then bested former boxing world champion, Paulie Malignaggi, before a rematch loss to Knight and last weekend's knockout loss to Berinchyk.