Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has pleaded guilty to a DUI charge in New Zealand just weeks before his latest fight.
According to the NZ Herald, Adesanya arrived at the Auckland District Court on Monday morning, the 34-year-old fighter was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident occurred 21 days before his last fight in the UFC.
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. 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. 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 the offense is imprisonment of three months or a fine of $4500. Adesanya is expected to be sentenced on January 10, 2024.
In his last fight, which took place on September 10, 2023 at UFC 293, Adesanya lost to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision of the judges and lost his middleweight championship belt. Adesanya has 24 wins and three losses on his record.