Israel Adesanya, considered one of the best fighters in the UFC, used exceptional defensive wrestling to dominate the middleweight division until facing his long-time kickboxing rival, Alex Pereira.
After losing the title to Pereira and reclaiming it in stunning fashion, Izzy experienced a monumental upset at UFC 293, losing the title to the massive underdog Sean Strickland. Following the loss, the former middleweight champion took a self-imposed hiatus, and his biopic documentary received overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Israel Adesanya slams prosecutor with cryptic IG post
Israel Adesanya, no stranger to controversy, previously had clashes with the New Zealand government. Recently, he attracted more controversy after a cryptic Instagram story following his court appearance for a drunken driving case.
Izzy appeared in the Auckland District Court for the charges he faced, and after the court session, he shared a picture of the police prosecutor on his Instagram story with misogynistic lyrics from a popular song by Big Sean.
Israel Adesanya reportedly avoids conviction for August 2023 drunk driving incident https://t.co/quOhPYYLfG
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 10, 2024
The Last Stylebender, with a massive Instagram following close to 10 million, shared lyrics on his Instagram story that said, “You little stupid ass bitch, I ain’t fuckin’ with you.” The lyrics did not go unnoticed by the media. Adesanya’s Instagram story documented his arrival at the court, footage from inside the court, and a photo of the police prosecutor.
Adesanya’s actions sparked controversy as New Zealand law prohibits taking pictures from inside the court without the judge’s permission. It’s important to note that Izzy quickly deleted the story before the 24-hour timeframe, after which it would automatically be removed.
Auckland District Court’s verdict on Israel Adesanya drink-drive case
Israel Adesanya appeared in the Auckland District Court due to a drunk driving charge at Auckland Central on August 19. The news of the arrest became public just days before his title fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September of 2023. Judge Peter Winter, who presided over the case, discharged Adesanya without conviction. Leading criminal defense lawyer Karl Trotter appeared for Adesanya on the court.
The discharge has a significant impact on the future of the UFC superstar. Many factors made the judge discharge the champion. Adesanya immediately pleaded guilty when he was arrested and he even did not seek name suppression which the judge commended for accountability. However, the judge mentioned his previous driving while disqualified case where Adesanya was also discharged without conviction.
Israel Adesanya has avoided a guilty conviction for his DUI charge last September.
— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) January 10, 2024
Instead, he will have his license suspended for six months, is required to pay a $1,500 fine to charity, and must enroll in a stop drinking and driving program.
Adesanya’s lawyer, Karl Trotter… pic.twitter.com/vxvdXUaoMr
Nonetheless, Adesanya has to pay $1500 New Zealand Dollars in fines and also will have his license suspended for 6 months. Adesanya’s stature as a sporting icon in New Zealand and his nonexistent criminal record also persuaded the judge to discharge him. Moreover, Tropper argued that a conviction could hinder Adesanya’s plans to go to Canada to be at UFC 297, headlined by Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, for the middleweight title.
Adesanya thanked the judge for his critical thinking and compassion for the judgment he made. Nonetheless, it was later overshadowed by Adesanya’s action on Instagram. With the lawyer mentioning Adesanya’s presence at UFC 297, the chances of the winner of Strickland vs Du Plessis fighting Adesanya on his return at UFC 300 have become very high.
What do you think of Israel Adesanya’s Instagram story? Leave your thoughts below!
