Artem Lobov’s next assignment in the octagon has been set.
‘The Russian Hammer’ has inked a deal to face Team Alpha Male’s Andre Fili in Gdansk, Poland, on October 21st. News of the booking was announced by the UFC Europe social media team early on Friday.
Lobov, who is currently in Las Vegas helping Conor McGregor prepare to face Floyd Mayweather next week, turned down a potential July booking with Fili as it overlapped with his duties in McGregor’s camp. That bout ultimately went to UFC newcomer Calvin Kattar who outpointed Fili over three rounds at UFC 214.
Now that's a fun fight! @RusHammerMMA vs. @TouchyFili on deck for #UFCGdansk!
🎟 https://t.co/4pemQt78I6 pic.twitter.com/5lhO2My2rc
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 18, 2017
Last seen in the main event of UFC Nashville where he dropped a Fight of the Night decision to perennial 145-pound contender Cub Swanson, Lobov had success against the last Team Alpha Male representative he faced when he turned in arguably his finest UFC performance to date when he won a decision against Teruto Ishihara at UFC Belfast in November of last year.
Rumours of a potential bout between Lobov and Fili first appeared when the SBG man asked Urijah Faber as to Fili’s availability during the filming of the 22nd season of The Ultimate Fighter in the summer of 2015.
