Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has pleaded guilty to drunk driving following an incident that occurred on August 19 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The incident took place as Adesanya encountered a Random Breath Testing Unit while returning from dinner with friends.
He was found to have 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which exceeds the legal limit of 50 milligrams in New Zealand.
In a statement provided to ESPN, 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
“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,” he added.
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Per his team, Adesanya was driving home after a dinner with friends in Auckland and “encountered a Random Breath Testing unit.” The court date Monday was a summons hearing. He must return for sentencing Jan. 10, his team said.
The court date on Monday was for a summons hearing, and Adesanya is scheduled to return for sentencing on January 10.
In New Zealand, the maximum penalty for a drunk driving charge is either three months of jail time or a fine of $2,680, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
Israel Adesanya, aged 34, recently lost the UFC middleweight title in a unanimous decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 on September 10 in Sydney, Australia.
Adesanya, originally from Nigeria, is a two-time UFC middleweight champion and is widely regarded as one of the top fighters in MMA history in the 185-pound division.
