Adesanya in a photo shoot. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/IsraelAdesanya
One of the most victorious partnerships in MMA history has come to an end. Last Thursday (9), Israel Adesanya surprised everyone by announcing his departure from 'City Kickboxing', a renowned team located in New Zealand and led by coach Eugene Bareman. Now, it is not known for sure where the former king of the UFC middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg) will go, however, despite the difficult decision, there is no regret on his part.
The Nigerian made the announcement on his official YouTube channel. In his statement, Adesanya, visibly saddened, explained his departure from CKB and expressed his gratitude, making a point of honoring his friends and training partners who remain at the gym. It's worth noting that 'The Last Stylebender' had been part of the team since 2010, meaning he was one of its longest-serving and most respected members.
At the peak of his partnership with Bareman, the athlete amassed victories and dominated the middleweight division. However, time passed, and Adesanya, now 36 years old, is experiencing the worst moment of his career, having lost his last four fights. Therefore, aiming to turn things around in the UFC, the Nigerian, who was already considering a change of scenery, decided to put an end to his victorious history in CKB and begin a new chapter, aiming for a different training regimen.
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“So, on Wednesday, May 20th, I spoke personally with Eugene and told him I wouldn’t be returning to CKB. This was something that had been brewing behind the scenes for a long time , and we came to an understanding. I’m not going to lie, it sucks. The grief comes in waves for me. But like I said, it’s been a while. I just want to make this clear because I want you to hear it from me,” said the UFC star.
“I think those who know are waiting for the ball to drop. Yes, it’s bittersweet, but it’s the right thing for me, especially at this point in my career. It’s exactly what I needed. Insanity is doing the same shit and expecting a different result . So, I guess that’s it. I just don’t want to talk about it. Like I said, it sucks. I want to grieve in peace. People want to bring it up, fine, but don’t ask me about it. I don’t usually give interviews anyway.”
“I started training at CKB in 2009, but in 2010 I moved to Auckland and settled down to train there. CKB transformed me into the fighter I am today . They trained many excellent fighters, even better than me. But, for me, as an individual, CKB transformed me into the fighter I am today. But I was also one of the main pillars that put CKB on the world map, taking it to a new level, where people from all over the world want to train there.”
“I’m proud of that. It wasn’t just Eugene. There are a lot of guys who help. It’s a huge operation and the academy’s success is insane right now. What I need for myself is focused individual training . So, I made the decision to leave CKB for my own reasons and yes, I’m going to stop here,” he concluded.
Adesanya's fighters in MMA
Israel Adesanya , 36, made history as the UFC middleweight champion (up to 83,9 kg) and became an MMA legend. The Nigerian began his career in the sport in 2012, debuted in the company in 2018, and won the belt in 2019 and 2023. In his first reign in the division, the renowned striker defended the title five times. Currently, the athlete is ranked eighth in the category.
In this discipline, 'The Last Stylebender' built a record of 24 wins, 16 by knockout, and five losses. His main victories were over Alex Poatan , Anderson Silva , Derek Brunson , Jared Cannonier , Kelvin Gastelum , Marvin Vettori (twice), Paulo Borrachinha , Robert Whittaker (twice), and Yoel Romero.
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