Israel Adesanya has departed City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand, his longtime training home, following four consecutive losses including a knockout defeat to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle. Adesanya announced the move on his YouTube channel, citing the need for a change in environment. Teammate Navajo Stirling, preparing for his UFC Belgrade clash with Jan Blachowicz, said the gym wishes Adesanya well and remains in strong health with fighters such as light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg still on the roster.
Israel Adesanya has parted ways with City Kickboxing, the Auckland gym that served as his training base throughout his UFC career, following a four-fight losing streak that culminated in a knockout loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle. Adesanya announced the departure himself via his YouTube channel, describing the split as a necessary change of environment.
The 37-year-old Nigerian-born middleweight sits at 24-6 on his professional record and is currently ranked eighth in the division. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Adesanya built his reputation on sharp, high-volume striking, averaging 4.03 significant strikes landed per minute over his career at 48 percent accuracy. His tenure at City Kickboxing spanned his entire UFC run, including his time as middleweight champion, making the departure one of the more significant splits in recent MMA history.
City Kickboxing, for its part, appears to be in stable shape despite losing one of its marquee names. Teammate Navajo Stirling, who faces Jan Blachowicz at UFC Belgrade, stated publicly that the gym wishes Adesanya well. Blachowicz, the 43-year-old Polish veteran ranked fourth at light heavyweight, carries a 29-11-2 record and averages 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat for Stirling to prepare for.
The gym also retains light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, whose 15-1 record and 6.54 significant strikes landed per minute rank among the more impressive output figures in the division. The 35-year-old New Zealander stands as the clearest indicator that City Kickboxing's program remains a force in the sport.
Why it matters
- Adesanya's exit ends a long-running partnership that produced a UFC championship reign and multiple title defenses
- A four-fight skid at 37 raises genuine questions about his path back to contention at middleweight
- City Kickboxing retains a light heavyweight champion in Ulberg and an active ranked contender in Stirling, signaling the gym's continued relevance
