According to reports, Israel Adesanya admitted guilt to a drunk driving charge in New Zealand on Sunday relating to an incident that happened three weeks before his most recent UFC fight.
The former UFC middleweight champion admitted guilt to a “drink driving” charge after being caught driving in Auckland on August 19 with 87 milligrammes of alcohol in his system per 100 millilitres of blood, over the legal limit of 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Herald on Sunday.
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Drinking And Driving Charge In NewZealand: Israel Adesanya
The former middleweight champion of the UFC, Israel Adesanya, admitted guilt in court on Monday morning to driving under the influence in his native New Zealand, his team informed ESPN on Sunday.
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,” Adesanya said in a statement provided to ESPN. “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.”
After having dinner with friends in Auckland, Adesanya was reportedly driving home when he “encountered a Random Breath Testing unit.” Monday’s court appearance was for a summons hearing. His team stated that he must return for sentence on January 10.
According to the New Zealand Herald, the maximum punishment for a drunk driving conviction is three months in jail or a $2,680 fine.
In a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 on September 10 in Sydney, Australia, Adesanya, 34, surrendered the UFC middleweight championship. The fighter, who was born in Nigeria, is regarded as one of the greatest 185-pound competitors in MMA history. He was a two-time UFC middleweight champion.
