Full Breakdown
Israel Adesanya Parts Ways with City Kickboxing After 16-Year Run
7/10/2026, 6:10:02 PM
The Split Marks the End of a Long-Term Partnership
On Wednesday, 20 May 2026, former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya announced via a YouTube video that he would no longer train at City Kickboxing (CKB) in Auckland, New Zealand, and that he had spoken “face-to-face” with longtime head coach Eugene Bareman to confirm the decision. The split comes amid a four-fight losing streak, the toughest stretch of Adesanya’s career, and signals a shift to “focused, individual training” for the 36-year-old fighter.
Background & Context
Adesanya first linked with CKB in 2009 and moved to Auckland full-time in 2010, making the gym his home for the bulk of his UFC journey. Under Bareman’s guidance he captured the UFC middleweight title in 2021, defended it six times, lost it to Alex Pereira in 2022, reclaimed it later that year, and then surrendered it to Sean Strickland in 2023. His rise helped put CKB on the global MMA map, attracting fighters worldwide to train at the Auckland facility.
Data & Statistics
- Career record: 24-6 (MMA) – 13-6 in the UFC.
- Title reign: five-time defending champion (2018-2023).
- Recent performance: four consecutive losses, including a second-round TKO to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle (March 2026).
- Title defenses: six successful defenses before the 2022 loss.
Why It Matters
The Adesanya-Bareman partnership was widely regarded as one of the sport’s most successful coach-fighter tandems. Their separation raises questions about the future direction of the UFC middleweight division and the competitive prospects of both Adesanya and CKB. A new training environment could alter Adesanya’s style, while CKB must adjust without its marquee athlete, potentially affecting its recruitment and performance pipeline.
Official Statements & Responses
Adesanya emphasized that the decision was “bittersweet” but “the right thing” given his career stage, citing a need to break the “insanity of doing the same shit over and over, expecting different results.” He declined to name a future gym, stating he “doesn’t want to talk about it” and wants to “grieve in peace.”
Eugene Bareman released a brief statement congratulating Adesanya on his achievements, calling him “the first UFC champion, first Mixed Martial Arts Halberg winner, first two-time UFC champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time,” and noting that “all fighters go through different stages” and that a change can “provide the catalyst to reinvigorate” a career.
Criticism & Opposition
Unverified social-media rumors have suggested a possible falling out with teammate Carlos Ulberg, but neither fighter has publicly addressed the speculation. No other fighters or organizations have offered formal criticism of the split.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact timing of the announcement: some describe it as a Thursday-day announcement without a date, while others pinpoint 20 May 2026 as the day Adesanya told Bareman he would not return. Additionally, no official information has been provided about Adesanya’s next training camp or potential fight schedule.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I spoke to Eugene face-to-face and told him I'm not coming back to CKB,” — Israel Adesanya
- “It was something a long time coming behind the scenes, and we have an understanding. It’s bittersweet, but it’s the right thing for me, especially where I am in my career. It’s exactly what I needed. Insanity is doing the same s—t over and over, expecting different results.” — Israel Adesanya
- “CKB made me into the fighter that I am today. They've trained a lot of great fighters — greats even better than myself,” — Israel Adesanya
- “What I need for myself is focused individual training. So I’ve made the decision to leave CKB for my own reasons.” — Israel Adesanya
- “Firstly I'd like to congratulate Isreal for all he has achieved and given to NZ Sports.” — Eugene Bareman
