Israel Adesanya has left City Kickboxing following a knockout loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle, his fourth consecutive defeat and first win since stopping Alex Pereira in April 2023. He is now training with Alexander Volkanovski's team in Sydney, Australia. UFC heavyweight Brando Pericic has also announced his departure from the Auckland gym, bidding farewell to coach Eugene Bareman and his teammates after four years in New Zealand.
Two high-profile departures have shaken City Kickboxing, the Auckland gym long regarded as one of MMA's elite training camps. Israel Adesanya and UFC heavyweight Brando Pericic have both cut ties with the team, with the news emerging in late September 2026.
Adesanya's exit follows one of the most difficult stretches of his career. The 37-year-old Nigerian middleweight, now 24-6, was knocked out by Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle, a loss that extended his losing run to four consecutive defeats. His last victory came in April 2023, when he stopped Alex Pereira. A switch-stance striker who stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Adesanya lands 4.03 significant strikes per minute and has built his legacy almost entirely on his standup craft. He is now relocating his training to Sydney, Australia, where he will work with Alexander Volkanovski's team.
Pyfer, the man who ended Adesanya's most recent run, is 16-3 and ranked sixth in the middleweight division. The 30-year-old American fights out of Team Balance and lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute, while also averaging 1.45 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a more complete mixed game than his knockout highlight reel alone suggests.
Pericic's departure is separate in nature. The UFC heavyweight announced he is leaving City Kickboxing after four years in New Zealand, publicly bidding farewell to head coach Eugene Bareman and his teammates.
Why it matters
- City Kickboxing loses two fighters simultaneously, raising questions about the gym's current roster depth and direction.
- Adesanya moving to train alongside Volkanovski, the featherweight champion ranked third pound-for-pound at 28-4, represents a significant shake-up to his preparation ahead of any middleweight comeback.
- At 24-6 and ranked ninth at middleweight, Adesanya faces a steep climb to reclaim the divisional relevance he once owned.
- Pericic's exit further thins the Auckland gym's heavyweight representation on the UFC roster.
