Israel Adesanya risk 3-months jail term in New Zealand
Nigerian-born New Zealander Mixed Marshal Arts fighter,Israel Adesanya risks being thrown into jail for a period not less than three months, after pleading guilty to drunk driving charges.
The former UFC middleweight champion allegedly committed this offense on August 19th in New Zealand, three weeks before his most recent UFC fight which ended in a defeat to Sean Strickland on September 10.
READ ALSO UFC star Israel Adesanya apologises for drink driving
The Nigerian-born fighter, who had supper with friends in Auckland, was detained by a secret breathalyzer unit on his way home.
Adesanya was found to have 87 milligrams of alcohol in his system as against the legal limit of 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in New Zealand.
The maximum punishment for Adesanya’s crime, according to ESPN, is three months in jail or a $2,680 fine.
On January 10, 2024, the MMA fighter will return to court for sentencing.
In a statement published by ESPN, Israel Adesanya said, “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 a dinner.
“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 behaviour is acceptable.”
READ ALSO Adesanya posted worst display against Strickland – Du Plessis
Adesanya, a two-time middleweight champion of the UFC, has lost two of his last three fights and has a 4-3 record over his last seven outings in the octagon.
With a 24-3 record and 16 knockout wins, the 34-year-old fighter is still regarded as one of the best MMA fighters of all time.
Recall that before taking up fighting , Adesanya regularly competed in dance competitions across New Zealand. He highlighted his passion for dance in a choreographed walkout at UFC 243
Adesanya is a fan of anime and has stated he would like to start an anime production company after retiring from fighting. His nickname “The Last Stylebender” is a reference to Avatar: The Last Airbender, an anime-influenced cartoon series.Adesanya has the image of one of the show’s main characters, Toph Beifong, tattooed on his forearm.