End of an Era: Israel Adesanya Officially Leaves City Kickboxing

After 16 years of training under Eugene Bareman, the former two-time UFC champion announces a permanent split from his longtime gym.

In a major shift for mixed martial arts, former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya announced his departure from City Kickboxing (CKB) in Auckland, New Zealand. The 36-year-old superstar had been a core pillar of the gym since joining in 2009, building his entire legendary career under head coach Eugene Bareman.

Adesanya revealed the news via his personal YouTube channel, clarifying that he spoke face-to-face with Bareman to solidify the decision. The split comes during a career-worst four-fight losing streak, most recently capped by a technical knockout loss to Joe Pyfer in March 2026. Describing the change as bittersweet, Adesanya explained that he needs highly focused, individualized training moving forward to reinvigorate his competitive path.

While he is permanently leaving the physical CKB facility, Adesanya confirmed he will continue working with CKB wrestling coach Andrei Paulet as his new head coach. Bareman publicly wished Adesanya well, noting that the legendary fighter remains a forever part of the gym family.