The world of combat sports is not always gentlemanly, and sometimes trash talk and taunts are used to hype up a potential matchup. However, when it comes to the reputation of an organization and the sport itself, there are certain lines that should not be crossed. This is the sentiment expressed by Israel Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, who is unhappy with recent comments made by Khamzat Chimaev about potentially fighting Adesanya. In a recent interview, Bareman expressed his displeasure, noting that such talk not only devalues his fighter and team, but also the integrity of the sport. In this article, we will examine Bareman’s comments and the impact of inflammatory rhetoric on the sport of mixed martial arts.
City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman has criticized the idea of a potential fight between Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev, stating that the Chechen-born Swede has not done enough to warrant a fight against Adesanya at middleweight. Bareman believes that Chimaev needs to have at least three middleweight wins to qualify for a shot at the middleweight title, citing the example of Alex Pereira. Chimaev is undefeated at 12-0 and has won at welterweight and middleweight, but failed to make weight in his last fight and has yet to compete against a top-ranked middleweight. Middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis and former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz have also emerged as potential opponents for Adesanya.
Adesanya recently defeated his longtime rival Alex Pereira in their fourth combat sports meeting at UFC 287 via an impressive second-round knockout. After his victory, speculation has begun as to who Adesanya will face next. Chimaev is one of the possible opponents for Adesanya, having called out the Nigerian-born Kiwi soon after his victory. However, Bareman believes that fighting Chimaev would devalue the organization, sport, and everything that they’ve stood for.
Bareman spoke in a recent interview with Submission Radio and claimed that he’s not fighting against Khamzat, but he’s arguing for the prestige of UFC, the brand, and for the sport. He affirmed that he loves the challenge but is always in favor of challenges that suit best for the sport of UFC. If Chimaev wants to earn a shot at Adesanya’s title, he needs to do more and win more fights.
In conclusion, it is clear that Israel Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, is deeply disappointed with the recent fight talk from Khamzat Chimaev. As someone who cares deeply about the sport and the organization in which he competes, Bareman is worried that Chimaev’s behavior is devaluing both of these entities. While it remains to be seen whether Chimaev will heed Bareman’s warning or continue down this path, it is encouraging to see that there are still those within the world of combat sports who take its integrity seriously. As fans and observers, we can only hope that all fighters will strive to uphold the values of their sport and organization, rather than tearing them down for short-term personal gain.
