Israel Adesanya, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion, is known for his electrifying performances, but a recent training session with David Goggins pushed him to his physical breaking point. The 35-year-old fighter, nicknamed “The Last Stylebender,” was filmed vomiting into a gym bin after an intense workout with the former Navy SEAL and ultra-endurance athlete, whose grueling training methods are legendary. This moment, captured in Las Vegas during Adesanya’s visit for WrestleMania, highlights his unrelenting commitment to staging a comeback in the UFC middleweight division following a series of setbacks.
The video, shared on Adesanya’s YouTube channel, features Goggins delivering a harsh wake-up call.
“Motherfu*ker thought this was a joke. It ain’t no game bro. This is what it is all bout right here,” Goggins says, emphasizing the session’s intensity.
He also questions Adesanya’s drive, asking:
“You still want to fight? You still want to be a champ?”
The footage shows Adesanya battling through a relentless series of exercises before succumbing to the strain, a powerful testament to his determination that has sparked widespread discussion among MMA fans.
😬🤮Israel Adesanya vomitted after training with David Goggins
🎥 @freestylebender ▫️ pic.twitter.com/ogp7uszn09
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 23, 2025
A Champion’s Challenges and Drive for Redemption
Adesanya’s career is a blend of dominance and recent struggles. His professional record stands at 24-5. He maintains a 49% significant strike accuracy and lands 3.96 significant strikes per minute, cementing his reputation as a precision striker. Since July 2022, however, Adesanya has struggled, going 1-4 with losses to Alex Pereira via knockout at UFC 281 in November 2022, Sean Strickland via unanimous decision at UFC 293 in September 2023, Dricus du Plessis via submission at UFC 305 in August 2024, and Nassourdine Imavov via second-round knockout at UFC Saudi Arabia in February 2025.
This three-fight losing streak marks the toughest period of his career.
The grueling session with Goggins is part of Adesanya’s plan to turn things around. Speaking with Goggins, Adesanya revealed his desire for a rematch with Strickland, who outclassed him in Sydney.
“I told Hunter [Campbell], already told my coach here, it’s time. I know who, I have a feeling who I wanna fight. You’ll like this one. I can get some get-back [on] Sean Strickland,” Adesanya said.
He admitted Strickland’s victory was decisive, stating:
“He beat me fair and square in Sydney, 5-0. Just whooped my a– badly,” but expressed confidence in his ability to rebound, citing the need to recover from the demanding schedule of fighting three to four times a year as champion.
Goggins’ training approach, while impactful, has drawn scrutiny. His coaching helped Jon Jones secure a first-round submission over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023, but his work with Tony Ferguson before UFC 296 in December 2023 preceded a loss to Paddy Pimblett. Fan reactions on X are mixed, with some praising Adesanya’s resilience and others warning of overtraining risks, referencing Goggins’ extreme feats like running ultramarathons on fractured legs. Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, told Submission Radio that the fighter is fully committed to reclaiming his winning form, indicating this punishing training is a calculated step in his preparation.
