Israel Adesanya pleads guilty, drove drunk 3 weeks before UFC title loss to Strickland

Former UFC champ Israel Adesanya apologized to fans, friends and family after pleading guilty to driving drunk.

By: Nate Wilcox | 2 months ago
Israel Adesanya pleads guilty, drove drunk 3 weeks before UFC title loss to Strickland
IMAGO | AAP by DAN HIMBRECHTS

UFC star Israel Adesanya pleads guilty in New Zealand

UFC middleweight (and until his recent loss to Sean Strickland, champ) Israel Adesanya made an appearance at Auckland district court in New Zealand and pleaded guilty to drunk driving according to the New Zealand Herald:

“Court documents show the international star was charged with driving a car on Wellesley St in Auckland Central with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 milligrams.”

The charge carries a maximum penalty of a $4500 fine or three months in prison.

Israel Adesanya apologizes to friends, fans and family

“I want to apologise to the community, my family and my team for the decision I made to get behind the wheel after drinking at dinner,” Israel Adesanya said in a statement provided to the Herald.

“I was pulled over and gave an evidentiary blood test – the reading was 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.”

He added: “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.”

Fans will note that the incident happened on August 19, while Israel Adesanya was in training for his title-losing performance at UFC 293.

These things happen in MMA

Israel Adesanya is far from the first UFC star to find himself in court for driving while impaired.

Here’s just a few headlines from the Bloody Elbow archives:


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About the author
Nate Wilcox
Nate Wilcox

Nate Wilcox is the founding editor of BloodyElbow.com. As such he has hired every editor and writer to work for the site. Wilcox’s writing for BE is known for its emphasis on MMA history, the evolution of fighting techniques and strong opinions. Wilcox developed the SBN MMA consensus rankings which were featured in USA Today from 2009 to 2011. Before founding BE, Wilcox was a political operative working for such figures as Senators John Kerry and Mark Warner and an early political blogger. He is the co-author of Netroots Rising, a history of the political blogosphere from 2003 to 2007. Wilcox also hosts the Let It Roll podcast on music history for the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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