Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faces up to three months in prison after pleading guilty to drink-driving charges in his home country, New Zealand.
The incident occurred on August 19, when Adesanya was stopped and found with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in his system. The legal limit in New Zealand is 50 milligrams.
Adesanya was returning from dinner with friends when he “encountered the random breath testing unit” in Oakland, his team told ESPN. The mixed martial arts fighter will return to court on January 10 for sentencing.
“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 in a statement provided to ESPN.
He also said: “I’m disappointed by my decision to drive, it was wrong. I know people may follow me and I want them to know that I don’t think this behavior is acceptable.”
He could face a fine of up to $2,680 and/or three months in prison, according to the British Daily Mail and ESPN.
The 34-year-old lost a unanimous decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 on September 10 in Sydney.
The former kickboxer, born in Lagos, Nigeria, is considered among the greatest MMA fighters of all time, with a record of 24-3 and 16 wins by knockout.
