Nigerian-New Zealander mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya has been arrested at the JFK airport in New York, NRTC reports.
Adesanya was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly possessing brass knuckles while going through security screenings at the airport.
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This is coming barely four days after he lost his UFC middleweight championship to Brazilian mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, Alex Pereira.
The ‘Last Stylebender’ was taken into custody near JFK’s American Airlines terminal just before 2:00p.m. local time.
Possession of brass knuckles are illegal in New York state and is considered a misdemeanor offence. If convicted, mixed martial artist may spend up to one year in jail plus potential fines.
He has been detained in police custody and may be barred from leaving New York until officials complete their investigation.
It’s not certain if Adesanya’s brass knuckles were a part of his carry-on bag, on his person, or in a checked bag. The purpose of the possession is also uncertain at this time.
A native of Lagos, Nigeria, Adesanya is now a citizen of New Zealand and currently lives in Auckland.
