​Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has announced his departure from his longtime training home, City Kickboxing (CKB). In a candid reveal on his YouTube channel, the MMA star explained that on Wednesday, May 20, he spoke with Eugene Bareman face-to-face and told him he would not be returning to CKB. Adesanya described the decision as something that has been in the works behind the scenes for a long time and said there is an understanding between him and the gym. “I won’t lie, it sucks,” he admitted, acknowledging the emotional toll of the split. He spoke about grief arriving in waves, noting that while he has had good days, there have also been moments when the move feels painful. “Grief comes in waves for me, for most people. I’ve grieved before. It comes in waves. I’ve had great days but I’ve also had days where I’m like (this sucks).”
He emphasized that the decision is a long time coming and wanted to share the news directly, noting that he hoped listeners would hear it first from him, not from rumors. Adesanya remarked that some observers have waited for a sign, but he ultimately dropped the ball by not addressing the situation sooner. The timing of the split comes amid a challenging stretch for the champion, who has lost four fights in a row. He believes a fresh environment and new training dynamics could provide the catalyst he needs at this stage of his career.
“It’s bittersweet. But it’s the right thing for me, especially where I’m at in my career,” Adesanya said. “It’s exactly what I needed. Insanity is doing the same sh*t 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.”
At 36 years old, Adesanya has spent 16 years with City Kickboxing, an organization he says has been the sole gym of his professional combat sports journey. He credited CKB with shaping him into the fighter he is today, noting that the team has produced a number of outstanding athletes, perhaps even “greats” who surpass him in some respects. Nevertheless, he stressed that his personal growth requires a new approach to training.
“CKB made me into the fighter that I am today. They’ve trained a lot of great fighters. Greats. Even better than myself. But me as an individual, CKB made me into the fighter that I am today,” Adesanya said, acknowledging the gym’s impact on his career and his role in elevating CKB’s reputation on the world stage. “But also, I was one of the main pillars who 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.”
For his future, Adesanya signaled a shift toward more focused, individualized training. He stated clearly that he has decided to leave City Kickboxing for reasons personal to his development and goals, promising to keep details private. “What I need for myself is focused, individual training,” he explained. “So, I’ve made the decision to leave CKB for my own reasons. I’ll leave it at that.”
As Adesanya charts this new course, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how the change in training environment influences his performance in the octagon. With a career defined by adaptability and a relentless pursuit of improvement, the former champion’s move away from City Kickboxing marks a pivotal moment in his ongoing quest to reclaim world title contention and add another chapter to a storied combat sports legacy.