Adesanya Leaves City Kickboxing After Nine Years
The former UFC middleweight champion has split from the New Zealand gym he trained at since 2009 and now prepares with a smaller team.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
Israel Adesanya parted ways with City Kickboxing in July 2026, ending a relationship with the New Zealand gym that began in 2009. The former UFC middleweight champion now trains with a smaller team built specifically for him.
Why it matters
Adesanya has not won an octagon fight in over three years and has lost three consecutive bouts since his second title reign ended. The change in training environment comes as he looks to restore his competitive standing in the middleweight division.
Adesanya's last octagon victory came more than three years ago, and he has since lost three straight fights to Dricus du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and Joe Pyfer. The reason for his departure from City Kickboxing was not stated, and the rumored Shara Bullet fight at UFC Saudi Arabia remains unconfirmed.
The players
Israel Adesanya
Adesanya is a former UFC middleweight champion who recaptured the title with a knockout over Alex Pereira.
City Kickboxing
City Kickboxing is a New Zealand gym that has produced UFC champions including Alexander Volkanovski and Carlos Ulberg.
The details
Adesanya, who recaptured the UFC middleweight title with a knockout over Alex Pereira, lost his second reign to Sean Strickland without a successful defense. He said he could have been a better teammate at City Kickboxing, which has also housed champions Alexander Volkanovski, Carlos Ulberg and Robert Whittaker.
Timeline
Over three years before November 2026: Adesanya last won a fight inside the octagon.
July 2026: Adesanya parted ways with City Kickboxing.
December 5, 2026: A fight against Shara Bullet at UFC Saudi Arabia is rumored.
Season Trajectory
Adesanya's departure from City Kickboxing follows his loss of the middleweight title to Sean Strickland and three subsequent defeats. The move marks a change in how he is preparing after a stretch that has left him without a win in more than three years.
A fight card on December 5, 2026 featuring Adesanya would be a key booking for middleweight fantasy rosters. Fans tracking his record will watch whether the smaller training setup changes his results after three straight losses.
The takeaway
Adesanya's move to a smaller, dedicated team is an attempt to reset after a run of losses that has defined his recent career. Whether it translates to wins will become clear once he returns to the octagon.
What happens next
A rumored fight against Shara Bullet at UFC Saudi Arabia on December 5, 2026 is the next scheduled moment to watch, though it has not been confirmed.
Further reading
For more on the sport's fighters and training camps, see Mixed Martial Arts.
