In this episode we’re rewinding the clock back to September 2021 when we sat down with Eugene Bareman.  
  
Eugene is New Zealand’s MMA mastermind.  
  
He’s a fighter - a multiple NZ champion in kickboxing, Jui Jitsu and MMA, A business owner - his Auckland gym City Kickboxing is widely regarded as one of the best MMA gyms in the world and a coach who has produced a group of fighters that have soared to the top of the UFC world. Eugene was named UFC coach of the years in 2019 and 2020 and has trained two UFC champions.  

In this episode we talk about why he dropped out of school in fifth form, and the work ethic that saw him rebound to get an A bursary and go to law school, why he stopped fighting, and when he might start again, what really happens in the UFC locker rooms before a big fightnight, the first time he ever met Israel Adesanya and how he sees him differently to the rest of the world -  and the best pranks seen at his City Kickboxing gym.  

This was a really deep, insightful chat, and it’s so easy to see why and how Eugene has won the respect of so many around the world. His thirst to improve, worth ethic, humbleness, honesty and wisdom, makes this episode a cracker – even if you’re not an MMA fan.  

Listen here on iheart or wherever you get your podcasts from and check your podcast app for show notes. A huge thanks to those donating to the cause on Patreon, if you want to support the show go to www.betweentwobeers.com. 

This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer Garden studio. 

Show notes | Eugene Bareman | Re-Release

2:00: Back at Massey High School: rugby, study, and the turning point of his life

12:51: Family fundamentals: Provide for your children, back yourself, learn from your mistakes

16:20: Law school and falling in love with fighting

22:20: Eugene Bareman: the fighter

26:20: On mental toughness

30:45: The ambition to get to 50 fights

34:40: Has this journey gone better than imagined?

37:33: Getting into the UFC

42:20: Israel Adesanya

51:34: Behind the scenes of a UFC fight night: locker room and between rounds

1:03:41: Reacting to losses in combat sports

1:10:21: City Kickboxing: Changing lives

1:17:39: The weight of responsibility

1:21:19: Hard work, pranks and banter

1:25:52: The role of the trainer in combat sports

1:31:05: Getting recognised overseas

1.33.01: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Eugene