Rumors of tension inside City Kickboxing have been making the rounds, but Coach Eugene Bareman is not buying into the noise.
Following Carlos Ulberg’s title-winning performance at UFC 327, speculation quickly grew about a possible fallout between him and longtime teammate Israel Adesanya. Fans pointed to social media clues, including both fighters unfollowing each other and Adesanya’s silence after the victory.
However, Eugene Bareman has now stepped in to set the record straight.
“The boys trained together leading up to this camp, and they trained together leading up to Israel’s fight,” Bareman said. “In any gym, there are always going to be times when you’re bumping heads with people. I’ve had people sparring and training together who end up in a full-blown fistfight.”
Coach Eugene Bareman made it clear that disagreements are part of the sport, especially in a high-level environment like City Kickboxing. According to him, what fans are seeing is being blown out of proportion.
“We aren’t playing chess or checkers here. It’s a physical and emotional sport,” Bareman said. “Sometimes, my fighters aren’t getting along, but they’ve been civil to each other in the camps and it seems like whatever happened is behind them. We’ve moved on.”
Despite the outside chatter, Coach Eugene Bareman insists there is no lasting bad blood between Ulberg and Adesanya. He emphasized that both fighters remained professional throughout their camps, even if tensions briefly surfaced.
Meanwhile, Ulberg’s rise continues to dominate headlines. He captured the light heavyweight title with a dramatic knockout win over Jiri Prochazka, overcoming a serious knee injury to deliver one of the most memorable finishes of the year.
Still, the post-fight narrative shifted when Prochazka claimed he showed “mercy” during the fight—an explanation that Coach Eugene Bareman also addressed.
“I mean, I give it to him,” Bareman said. “Fighters are allowed to make up whatever they can to get themselves back on the horse. Say what you want, build whatever story you need—it’s part of the process.”
Coach Eugene Bareman’s comments suggest he understands the mindset behind Prochazka’s explanation, even if he does not necessarily agree with it.
As for the rumored tension within the gym, the message from Coach Eugene Bareman is simple: it is being exaggerated.
For now, City Kickboxing remains focused on what matters, producing champions and winning fights. And with Carlos Ulberg now holding UFC gold, Coach Eugene Bareman has once again proven why he remains one of the most respected minds in the sport.
