- Israel Adesanya has avoided a drunk driving conviction
- UFC superstar was caught over the limit in August last year
- His lawyer said he was at risk of losing lucrative sponsorship deals
Israel Adesanya has been fired without conviction after his lawyer revealed the UFC superstar was at risk of losing lucrative sponsorship deals over his drunk driving charge.
Adesanya, 34, appeared in the Auckland District Court on Wednesday after admitting drink-driving on August 19, 2023.
The New Zealander was stopped by police in Auckland just before midnight while driving his Bentley. Officers noticed he showed signs of having been drinking and he told them he had had two cocktails with friends.
Adesanya – the former UFC middleweight champion – showed a blood alcohol level of 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
In New Zealand, the legal limit for drivers over 20 years old is 50 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood.
Israel Adesanya has escaped a drunk driving conviction
His reading of 87 mg put him at risk of a maximum prison sentence of three months or a fine of up to $4,500.
But according to Stuff, Adesanya’s lawyer, Karl Trotter, begged the judge not to send his client to jail, arguing that sponsorship deals worth potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars were at stake for the fighter who has taken a short break from MMA.
“So that’s the ballpark we’re in,” said Trotter, who chose not to name any of these potential sponsors.
He also argued that a conviction would make it difficult for Adesanya to enter Canada. Reigning champion Sean Strickland fights Dricus du Plessis in Toronto at the end of this month, indicating Adesanya will be in attendance.
However, the police opposed the application and the prosecutor argued that the sponsorship and travel issues were purely speculative.
But judge Peter Winter sided with Adesanya in his ruling. He noted that Adesanya’s drunk driving record was relatively low and acknowledged that he had taken full responsibility for his offending.
He also reflected that the Kiwi had contributed to charities and made significant efforts to become a world-class fighter.
“You have bought credit on the land… I accept that in all other respects you are an exemplary citizen.”
Judge Winter accepted that a conviction would jeopardize Adesanya’s sponsorship deal, plus travel restrictions to Canada, and acknowledged that he had also tried not to conceal his offending from the public with a name suppression application.
However, Adesanya was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay $1,500 to a drink-driving charity. He was also told to enter a stop-drink-drive program.
He had previously said of the incident: ‘I am disappointed with my decision to drive. It was wrong. I know people may follow me and I want them to know that I do not find this behavior acceptable.”
Adesanya also posted a photo from the courtroom on his Instagram, which read: “34 years young and no criminal record. I am grateful that the judge has thought critically about this and shown compassion!’