Israel Adesanya Pleads Guilty To Drunk Driving
Former Two-Time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya Pleads Guilty To Drunk Driving
Written by Jason Diego
9/28/23
Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland at UFC 293. - Reuters
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya pled guilty to drunk driving on September 24, after having 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, 30 milliliters above the legal limit in New Zealand. While he pled guilty on September 24, the actual offense happened on August 19, 3 weeks before his shocking defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
“I want to apologize to the community, my family and my team for the decision I made to get behind the wheel after drinking at dinner,” Adesanya says. “I am disappointed with my decision to drive. It was wrong, I know that people might follow me and I want them to know I do not think this behavior is acceptable.”
Adesanya was also arrested on November 16, 2022, after he was in possession of brass knuckles at the JFK Airport in New York. Possession of brass knuckles, metal or plastic, is illegal in New York and is punishable for up to a year in prison plus fines. The charges were quickly dismissed and the brass knuckles were disposed of. While people raised eyebrows at him, Adesanya’s manager Tim Simpson said that, “Israel was handed a gift by a fan, which he put in his luggage”. This incident occurred 4 days after his defeat to rival Alex Pereira.
A hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2024. The maximum punishment for drunk driving in New Zealand is 3 months in prison, or a $4,500 New Zealand Dollar fine ($2,683 USD).