“Having your hands up doesn't stop you from getting knocked out and there are a lot of advantages to having your hands down. It's also more exciting because it looks very impressive from the fans' perspective, which is a big factor in the entertainment business.”

Irish-Russian former mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer, born 1986

Artem Lobov is an Irish-Russian former professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer. He was born in 1986 and is known for competing in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as in bare-knuckle boxing. A professional since 2010, Lobov also appeared as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber. He has fought for ACB, the UFC, Cage Warriors, and Cage Contender, and is based in Dublin as a member of SBG Ireland.