Eugene Bareman on Relationship with Israel Adesanya, Fighter Pay in UFC & Meeting Mark Zuckerberg

Dom Harvey

Episode Description

If you google his business “City Kickboxing” the first question that pops up is “Why is city kickboxing so good.”

Eugene and his gym have produced so many UFC stars- most notably Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kaikara France. He has even been recognized as the best MMA coach in the world in 2022.

We talk about his early years and his incredible drive and discipline.

What his goals were when he opened his gym.

His interactions with Dana White and his thoughts on the UFC and whether the fighters are paid fairly.

The weight of responsibility he feels as a coach of athletes in a sport that can literally be a matter of life and death.

Hilarious story about an interaction with Mark Zuckerberg and who would win between Zuck and Elon Musk. And so much more.

Thanks to my pals at Radix and Generate for making this conversation possible.

Radix is a Waikato based nutrition company with one simple goal- to make you healthier through what you put into your mouth. Their products are simply world class:

Generate are award-winning KiwiSaver specialists.

If you’ve never got KiwiSaver advice before, you should request a no-obligation chat with one of their advisers.

A copy of their product disclosure statement is available on their website. The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited and of course past performance does not guarantee future returns.

Brief Summary

Eugene Beerman discusses MMA, coaching, personal loss, and the evolution of fighters at City Kickboxing.

Key points

  • The Gym as a Playground. Eugene explains how the gym serves as a place for adults to escape reality.
  • A Pivotal Moment in Education. Eugene shares how a realization about education changed his life trajectory.
  • Transforming Pressure into Success. The speaker discusses how pressure led to realizing his potential and achieving qualifications.
  • A Gym for Broken Souls. The speaker explains the unique purpose of his gym, attracting those searching for something in life.
  • Balancing Dreams and Reality. The speaker shares the challenge of managing young fighters' expectations in pursuing a career in UFC.
  • The Weight of Responsibility. A conversation with a mentor changes the speaker's perspective on coaching and responsibility.

Ask about Dom Harvey

Episode highlights

Tension

60/ 100Some tension

Related episodes