UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has pleaded guilty to drink driving in the Auckland District Court today.
Adesanya arrived at the court about 9am with his lawyer and two personal security staff.
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.
“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,” Adesanya said in a statement provided to the Herald.
The incident
The incident occurred on February 7, 2021, when Adesanya was stopped by police at a checkpoint on Wellesley St around 1.30am. He was breath-tested and found to be over the limit.He was arrested and taken to the Auckland Central Police Station, where he underwent a blood test that confirmed his alcohol level.
He was charged with drink driving and released on bail. He appeared in court for the first time on March 24, 2021, and entered a not guilty plea.However, he changed his plea to guilty today and admitted his mistake.
Adesanya’s lawyer, Ron Mansfield, asked for a discharge without conviction, arguing that a conviction would have serious consequences for his client’s career and reputation.
Mansfield said Adesanya was a role model for many young people and had done a lot of charity work in New Zealand and abroad. He said Adesanya had no previous convictions and had shown genuine remorse for his actions.
He also said Adesanya had completed a defensive driving course and an alcohol assessment program since the incident. Judge Eddie Paul agreed that Adesanya was a person of good character and had taken steps to address his behaviour.
He also acknowledged that Adesanya had faced public scrutiny and criticism for his offence. However, he said drink driving was a serious matter that posed a risk to public safety and deterrence was an important factor in sentencing.
He fined Adesanya $800 and disqualified him from driving for six months. He also ordered him to pay $130 in court costs.
The reaction
Adesanya accepted the sentence and thanked the judge for his fairness. He also apologised again to his fans and supporters for letting them down.
“I made a mistake and I own it. I’m sorry for what I did and I’m learning from it. I’m not perfect, but I’m working on being better every day,” he said outside the court. He also said he was focused on his next fight, which is scheduled for October 9, 2021, against Robert Whittaker in Las Vegas. He said he was confident of defending his title and proving himself as the best fighter in the world.
“I’m still the champ and I’m still hungry. I’m ready to take on anyone who challenges me. I’m not afraid of anyone or anything. I’m here to stay,” he said.
