UFC News: Israel Adesanya arrest: Israel Adesanya is not having the best of weeks. Things are going from bad to worse for former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The 33-year-old recently lost his UFC title to long-time rival Alex Pereira and has now been arrested, as well as slapped with a suspension. For more UFC news, follow insidesport.IN.
The superstar fighter lost his title after Pereira knocked him out in the fifth round despite a dominating performance. And while he had a positive approach to the defeat and spoke about his potential return, things have not gone to plan.
Israel Adesanya arrest: Why was Israel Adesanya arrested?
TMZ reported that the Port Authority Police Department arrested ‘The Last Style bender’ at JFK airport before he boarded his flight back to New Zealand. His manager confirmed that a fan had given the former champion metal knuckles as a gift, for which Adesanya got arrested.
UFC News: Israel Adesanya arrest and UFC suspension: Did Israel Adesanya commit a non-bailable crime?
Without knowing that metal knuckles are illegal to carry through JFK airport, Adesanya packed it and thus got caught in the screening area.
Metal knuckles are a class A misdemeanor and possession of it is punishable with up to one year in prison in the state of New York, so it left the Police Department with little choice. However, Adesanya cooperated and gave away the knuckles.
Israel Adesanya arrest: Why is Israel Adesanya suspended?
The news of his arrest might confuse some fans, as Israel Adesanya is also suspended from the UFC. However, the suspension is a medical suspension and has nothing to do with his arrest. In fact, his manager has already confirmed that they have released Adesanya, and he is on his way back to New Zealand.
However, since Pereira knocked out Adesanya in the UFC 281 main event, the New York State Athletic Commission issued the New Zealander an indefinite suspension, with a mandatory rest period of 60 days.
Adesanya is one of 19 fighters from the card to receive medical suspensions from the commission. However, it is clear that his suspension has nothing to do with his arrest. It is merely a case of unfortunate timing for the former UFC middleweight champion.
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