Israel Adesanya Ends Longtime Run with City Kickboxing After 16 Years

One of the most successful fighter-gym partnerships in modern mixed martial arts has officially come to an end.

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya announced that he has parted ways with City Kickboxing, the Auckland, New Zealand gym that helped shape his rise into one of the sport’s biggest stars. Adesanya revealed the decision in a video posted to his YouTube channel, explaining that the move had been building for some time and became effective on May 20.

“This has been a long time coming,” Adesanya explained, describing the decision as emotional but necessary as he searches for a new chapter in his fighting career.

The split closes an era that began more than 16 years ago under head coach Eugene Bareman. During that time, Adesanya evolved from an elite kickboxer into one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history, capturing the UFC title twice while helping establish City Kickboxing as one of the world’s premier MMA gyms.

Adesanya was instrumental in the global rise of the New Zealand-based camp, which also produced champions and contenders across multiple organizations. Throughout his championship reigns, City Kickboxing became synonymous with technical striking, disciplined preparation and championship success.

Despite the separation, Adesanya made it clear there is no animosity toward his former team. He expressed gratitude for everyone who contributed to his journey and acknowledged that City Kickboxing played an irreplaceable role in his development as both an athlete and a person.

The announcement comes during the most difficult stretch of Adesanya’s professional career. The former champion has dropped four consecutive fights, including his most recent loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC Fight Night in Seattle earlier this year. Even so, Adesanya has consistently stated he has no intention of retiring from competition and remains motivated to return to the Octagon.

For now, Adesanya has not revealed where he intends to train next or who will lead the next phase of his career. Whether he joins another established gym or builds a more individualized training environment, the decision marks one of the biggest coaching changes in MMA in recent years.

As one of the sport’s most accomplished strikers and one of the defining champions of the UFC middleweight division, Adesanya’s next move will be closely watched by fans and fellow fighters alike. His departure from City Kickboxing represents the end of one chapter—but potentially the beginning of another as “The Last Stylebender” looks to write the next act of his legendary career.