Former UFC Champion Israel Adesanya Joins New Gym Amid Four-Fight Losing Streak
Israel Adesanya has taken a significant step in his career revival by linking up with a new team in Sydney. The former UFC middleweight champion was recently spotted training alongside current featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski and rising lightweight contender Mauricio Ruffy.
Training footage posted by Adesanya and Volkanovski’s combat sports brand, Engage, showed the former champion arriving at the Freestyle MMA Performance Centre in Australia, the well-known base for Alexander Volkanovski.
Another video, shared by Ruffy on social media, captures the Brazilian and Adesanya moving through drills, confirming the former champion’s arrival in Australia.
The gym, led by coach Joe Lopez, could be Adesanya’s new training home, at least for the foreseeable future. The videos also featured coaches from the Thailand MMA camp, Bangtao MMA, with recently retired UFC fighter Brad Riddell and coach George Hickman seemingly undertaking coaching duties for the fighters.
Adesanya’s Big Career Move
This move comes two months after his emotional announcement that he was parting ways with his longtime home, City Kickboxing, in New Zealand. He announced the split via his YouTube channel, stating it was time for a new chapter after a difficult stretch in his career.
“It’s bittersweet, but it’s the right thing for me, especially where I’m at in my career,” Adesanya explained about his decision.
The former champion is seeking a change after losing four consecutive fights. His last victory came in April 2023 when he knocked out Alex Pereira at UFC 287 to reclaim the middleweight title. His March defeat to Joe Pyfer at UFC Fight Night 271 appears to have been the final catalyst for his departure from City Kickboxing.
Coach Eugene Bareman has publicly supported Adesanya’s decision, emphasizing that a change can provide a catalyst for new success.
“We wish Israel all the best, and it has been our honor to work with and make some contribution to his success,” Bareman said in a statement to “She Loves the Gloves” on Medium. He added that Adesanya is “welcome at CKB and will always be part of our family.”
Adesanya’s Next Fight
Volkanovski and Ruffy are already in camp for their respective high-stakes bouts, making this a perfect training environment for Adesanya.
The featherweight champion is preparing to defend his title against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24. Meanwhile, Ruffy is gearing up for a potential No. 1 contender fight against Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC 331 on September 19.
Adesanya’s presence now adds a new dynamic as he integrates into their preparation, while also hinting at a potential return of his own. His nutritionist recently posted about a “full day of eating in camp,” fueling speculation that a fight announcement could be imminent.
The move to Freestyle MMA offers Adesanya the chance to work with the champion Volkanovski, who has frequently trained with City Kickboxing in the past, bridging the gap between the two camps.
Adesanya has also expressed a need for “focused, individual training,” which he believes is crucial at this stage of his career. This new partnership could be the key to ending his losing streak and mounting a return to the win column.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.