Israel Adesanya Could Face Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to Drunk Driving Charge

• Nigeria's Israel Adesanya could face jail time or be fined a hefty amount after pleading guilty
• The Last Stylebender was caught driving under the influence three weeks before his last fight
• The former Middleweight champion apologised to fans and family and admitted he was wrong

Things are going from bad to worse for Israel Adesanya.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi, who recently lost his title, is in trouble with the law after he was caught driving drunk in New Zealand.

The incident happened in August, three weeks before his loss to Sean Strickland. Adesanya was beaten by the American in the main event of UFC 293, losing his Middleweight belt in the process.

Izzy has now appeared in court on the charge and pleaded guilty.

As noted by MMA Fighting, Adesanya was charged with operating a vehicle with 87 milligrams of alcohol in his system per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit in New Zealand is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

Dricus du Plessis reacts to Israel Adesanya's shocking loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293

UFC

The Last Stylebender has since apologised to his fans, team and family, saying he knows it was wrong of him:

"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."

The former UFC Middleweight champion will now await his punishment.

Bloody Elbow reported that Adesanya could face jail time for the incident. The maximum penalty is a $ 4,500 fine or three months of jail time.

It is not the first time Izzy has been in trouble with the law, either. He was previously arrested four days after his first fight against Alex Pereira.

Adesanya arrested at airport

Just four days after his shocking loss to Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, Pereira, the Nigerian-born UFC fighter was arrested.

While going through screenings at JFK Airport in New York, a set of brass knuckles - an illegal item in the US - were reportedly discovered in his possession.

Further reports have it that Adesanya was immediately taken into custody at the airport facility near the American Airlines terminal, Sports Brief reported.