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Topics: Australia, New Zealand, MMA, UFC, Israel Adesanya, United States
Max Sherry
Topics: Australia, New Zealand, MMA, UFC, Israel Adesanya, United States
Israel Adesanya has been arrested at JFK airport in New York for allegedly possessing illegal brass knuckle dusters.
His run-in with local law enforcement comes just a few short days after losing his UFC title.
Adesanya was in New York to headline a stacked UFC 281 card at Madison Square Garden.
Unfortunately for Izzy, he left the iconic arena without his middleweight belt, having lost to age-old kickboxing foe Alex Pereira via fifth round TKO.
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Due to fly out of NYC on Wednesday the following week, the ex-champ was stopped by police at JFK airport during his TSA screening.
According to TMZ, he was then subsequently arrested and facing charges of "criminal possession of a weapon".
It's understood the weapon-in-question is alleged to be a set of metal knuckle dusters.
Adesanya's manager Tim Simpson issued a statement, via Ariel Helwani, which read: "Israel was handed a gift by a fan, which he put in his luggage.
"When flagged at the airport, Israel quickly disposed of the item, and cooperated with authorities.
"He has complied accordingly, with that the matter was dismissed and he is on his way home."
With brass knuckles being a Class A misdemeanour in the state of New York, the Nigerian-born Kiwi is likely to be issued something as simple as a Desk Appearance Ticket.
However, if the charges are re-visited and he's convicted, the crime carries up to one year behind bars, per TMZ.