Aljamain Sterling Criticizes Traditional MMA Gym Model as Outdated and Ineffective
"The team thing is so played out. You got guys that come on the mat. Some of these big gyms and it's there's like 40, 50 bodies on the mat, 30, whatever. You can't service all those guys. Boxing does it the right way."
About this episode
In a breaking development for mixed martial arts, UFC middleweight Israel Adesanya announced his departure from City Kickboxing and longtime coach Eugene Bareman, ending one of the sport's most iconic partnerships. The news emerged during a discussion on what appears to be an MMA-focused show, where hosts and guest Aljamain Sterling, former UFC bantamweight champion, analyzed the split and broader implications for fighter training models. According to sources close to the situation, the parting appears amicable, with Adesanya planning to adopt a boxing-style approach where his training team is built specifically around him rather than joining another established MMA gym. This marks a significant departure from traditional MMA culture where fighters represent specific teams like Jackson Wink, American Kickboxing Academy, or Tristar. Sterling, who recently relocated from Ray Longo's gym on Long Island while maintaining that coaching relationship, offered pointed criticism of the traditional team gym model, calling it "played out" and ineffective for servicing elite fighters. He argued that gyms with 40-50 fighters on the mat cannot provide the individualized attention needed at the highest levels, advocating instead for the boxing model where camps are structured around individual fighters with personalized coaching staffs. Sterling cited successful examples including fighters like Henry Cejudo, Demetrious Johnson, and Ilia Topuria who have adopted this approach. The discussion revealed that Bareman had previously acknowledged tensions in his relationship with Adesanya, having discussed publicly the need for difficult conversations about alignment and commitment before major fights. Sterling emphasized the importance of honest communication in coach-fighter relationships, comparing necessary separations to breakups that can remain amicable if both parties genuinely care about each other's success. The conversation also touched on Sterling's own training philosophy, including his emphasis on tape study, customized game planning, and what he calls "guided discovery" - a practice borrowed from Division I wrestling programs where athletes flow and experiment rather than constantly sparring at full intensity.
Key takeaways
- Israel Adesanya announced his departure from City Kickboxing and coach Eugene Bareman after years of partnership that defined both their careers in the UFC.
- Adesanya plans to adopt a boxing-style training model with a team built around him rather than joining another established MMA gym.
- Aljamain Sterling criticized the traditional MMA team gym model as outdated, arguing that gyms with dozens of fighters cannot properly service elite athletes.
- Eugene Bareman had previously discussed publicly having difficult conversations with Adesanya about alignment and commitment before major fights, suggesting underlying tensions.
- Sterling advocates for individualized training camps structured around specific fighters, citing successful examples like Henry Cejudo, Demetrious Johnson, and Ilia Topuria.
- Sterling emphasized that honest communication is essential in coach-fighter relationships and that separations can remain amicable if both parties prioritize the fighter's success.
- The discussion suggests a potential industry-wide shift in MMA from traditional team gyms toward boxing-style individualized training camps for elite fighters.