Drink-Driving: Israel Adesanya to be sentenced on 10th January, 2024

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Before his match with Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC), Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) would be charged of ‘drink-driving’, as New Zealanders call it. The former-UFC champion has pleaded guilty, and awaits the judge’s final decision which shall be heard on the 10th of January, 2024.

Israel Adesanya was accused of driving with a higher amount of alcohol level in his blood than is permitted for motorists in New Zealand. The highest punishment for this misdemeanor is a fine of $4,500 NZD, or three months imprisonment.

According to New Zealand Ministry of Transport, no driver should drive having more than 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his or her blood. Adesanya was found possessing 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of  his blood. Needless to say, too high a reasonable amount for a driver.

The incident took place on 19th August, 2023 at Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand. Israel Adesanya was taken to court, after a standard test of his blood alcohol level returned the worrisome result.

Following the proceedings that came thereafter, Israel Adesanya pleaded guilty as charged, and now awaits sentencing. He also gave a statement for the benefit of the global community, since he is a man many seek to imitate.

‘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,’ said Israel Adesanya.

The former-champion lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland on September 9, in the major fight session at UFC 293. Many are still stunned at the fashion of his defeat and his below-average performance during the contest.

This incident at a road in Auckland could make some rightly doubt he was taking his fitness into good consideration towards the fight. An auto crash could have made him unfit for the fight, and might have ended a life.

He lost at the competition by the uniform results submitted by the judges (49-46, 49-46, 49-46). Though UFC CEO, Dana White once said something about an immediate rematch, it seems that will not happen any time this year.

The responsible organisations are likely to make sure Israel Adesanya suffers enough to dissuade people around the world from ‘drink-driving’. A judge will punish Israel Adesanya on 10th January, 2024.