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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:
- UFC hall of famer arrested for DUI (again)
- Former UFC title challenger denies guilt in DUI arrest
- UFC middleweight Darren Till arrested for DUI in Sweden
- Dana White won’t discipline Jones for latest DUI arrest
- Former UFC champ yells obscenities, racial slur as he’s arrested for DUI
- UFC veteran charged with DUI manslaughter following fatal car crash
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