Navajo Stirling enters arguably the biggest fight of his career in the co-main event at UFC Belgrade on Saturday but he didn’t have a usual training partner by his side after Israel Adesanya announced he was cutting ties with his longtime head coach Eugene Bareman and the City Kickboxing gym in New Zealand.
Adesanya’s announcement was understandably shocking considering he’s spent over a decade working with the fighters and coaches at City Kickboxing but the former UFC middleweight champion made it clear
the split was “a long time coming.” For his part, Stirling wasn’t upset or angry that Adesanya left the team because he knows “The Last Stylebender” put his heart and soul into that gym and all the fighters for so long.
“I was happy for him,” Stirling said during UFC Belgrade media day. “Sometimes you do need a breath of fresh air. A new opportunity. New surroundings. I know what that does for a fighter. Everyone at the gym just wishes him nothing but the best.
“He’s paved the way for so many of us back home. Not just at our gym but other Kiwi’s and Aussies from down under, he’s paved the way for all of us. We all look up at him and we all want the best for him.”
Since announcing his move, Adesanya hasn’t revealed where he plans to train or when he might make his return to the UFC for his next fight.
While Adesanya was a pillar in that gym for many years, Stirling promises that City Kickboxing didn’t skip a beat in his absence.
As much as Adesanya meant to everyone there, Stirling knows the team is bigger than any one person and he’s had plenty of people to help him great ready for his showdown against Jan Blachowicz on Saturday, which now includes former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker as well.
“It didn’t get tougher [with Israel gone],” Stirling said. “We’ve got loads of guys at the gym. Big names, even names you’ve never heard of.
“In terms of where the gym’s at, we’re doing so well. We’re in such a good spot right now at City Kickboxing. I’m a part of that. I’m now a big part of the next surging style of fighters coming through the gym. It’s going to be a time.”
