Adesanya quits City Kickboxing after four straight losses and builds his own team

Israel Adesanya has left City Kickboxing, the Auckland, New Zealand gym where he trained for 15 years, and says the move has revitalised him as he prepares to end a four-fight losing skid in the UFC.

The former UFC middleweight champion parted ways with CKB in May, though he has not publicly explained his reasons for the split. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya was candid about the impact the change has had on him.

“I can truly say, with my departure from my old gym, CKB, and now building the team that I have and training specifically for me, this is the best I’ve felt in a very long time, for real,” Adesanya said.

The 35-year-old has endured a difficult run since losing the 185-pound title to Sean Strickland in 2023. He has since suffered stoppage defeats to Dricus Du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov and Joe Pyfer, leaving his professional record at 24-6 and raising serious questions about his future at the top of the middleweight division.

Building a training environment tailored specifically to his needs appears to be Adesanya’s answer to those questions. The shift marks a significant break from the structure that shaped him into a two-time champion, and signals a deliberate attempt to reset both physically and mentally.

Adesanya is rumoured to be headlining UFC Saudi Arabia against unbeaten prospect Sharabutdin Magomedov (17-1) on 5 December in Riyadh, though the UFC has yet to officially confirm the bout. A win over Magomedov would represent a statement result and potentially reignite a title push; another defeat would deepen doubts about whether Adesanya can recapture his best form.