​When Israel Adesanya returns to competition, he will do so with a new head coach in his corner, marking the first time in his UFC career that a different leader will guide his preparation. On Thursday, the former UFC middleweight champion announced that he and longtime coach Eugene Bareman have parted ways, and that he is no longer training out of City Kickboxing, the gym he has called home in New Zealand. Adesanya has been with City Kickboxing since 2009 and relocated there full time in 2010.
In a direct post to his followers, Adesanya wrote, “I spoke to Eugene face-to-face and I told him I am not coming back to CKB. This was something a long time coming behind the scenes. We have an understanding. I won’t lie, it sucks. Not anymore. Grief comes in waves for me, for most people. It comes in waves. I’ve had great days but I’ve also had days where [this sucks].”
The 36-year-old veteran did not spell out all of the specifics that led to the split, but he hinted at a need to alter his training and preparation approach before his next fight. Adesanya has endured the toughest stretch of his career recently, suffering four consecutive losses, including a second-round TKO to Joe Pyfer in March.
“It’s bittersweet,” he acknowledged. “But it’s the right thing for me, especially where I’m at in my career. It’s exactly what I needed. Insanity is doing the same shit and expecting a different result. I think that’s it. I just don’t want to talk about it. It’s something, it sucks, I want to grieve in peace.”
Although he is no longer training with City Kickboxing’s coaches and fighters, Adesanya paid tribute to the team that helped forge his status as a UFC champion. From his Octagon debut in 2018 until losing the middleweight title to Sean Strickland in 2023, he enjoyed a remarkable tenure, including a five-defense streak as champion. He later lost the belt to longtime rival Alex Pereira in 2022 but recovered with a dramatic knockout win over Pereira in 2023.
“CKB made me into the fighter that I am today,” Adesanya said. “They’ve trained a lot of great fighters, greats. Even better than myself. Me as an individual, CKB made me into the fighter that I am today. But also, I was one of the main pillars that put CKB on the map on the world stage. To take it to the next level where people from all over the world want to come train at CKB. I’m proud of that.”
As for the next steps, Adesanya did not reveal where he might train next or who will lead his fight camps going forward. What is clear is that he intends to pursue a more focused program, ensuring that he receives significant individual attention as he prepares to compete again. The exact destination for his training, and the identity of his future coaches, remains to be announced, but his aim is to build a streamlined setup that centers on his needs as he moves forward in his career.