Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has spoken out amid pleading guilty for drunk driving in Auckland.
The New Zealand Herald was the first to report the news. The report notes that on August 19, Adesanya was charged for driving while being over New Zealand’s 50 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood legal limit. “The Last Stylebender” reportedly had 87 milligrams per 100 milliliters at the time of his charge.
Israel Adesanya Apologizes For Going Over The Limit
In a statement sent out to The New Zealand Herald, Israel Adesanya expressed remorse for the drunk driving charge, and said he shouldn’t have been driving on that night.
“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 said. “I was pulled over and gave an evidentiary blood test — the reading was 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
“I am disappointed with my decision to drive. It was wrong,” he added. “I know that people might follow me and I want them to know I do not think this behavior is acceptable.”
The maximum penalty for Adesanya’s charge in New Zealand is either three months in jail, or a fine of $4,500 NZD. The former UFC middleweight king is scheduled for a sentence hearing on January 10, 2024.
The timing of Adesanya’s arrest came just three weeks before he lost the UFC Middleweight Championship to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Strickland was dominant throughout the fight, dropping Adesanya with a punch in round one, and taking complete control in the standup after round two.
It’ll be interesting to see how the 34-year-old “Izzy” fares in general going forward. The recent charge is sure to be eye-opening for many, as Adesanya deals with issues not only inside the Octagon, but in life in general.
