According to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, a weapons charge picked up by Israel Adesanya at John F. Kennedy International Airport last month is likely to be dismissed.
After airport screeners discovered a pair of brass knuckles in his luggage, the now-former UFC middleweight champion had been charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. However, as first reported by TMZ on Tuesday, Adesanya was granted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal by a Queen’s County court.
As long as Adesanya is not arrested in the county over the next six months, the existing charge will be dismissed.
“The Last Stylebender” was passing through JFK on his way home to New Zealand when the charge was laid, although he was allowed to continue on with his trek home. Adesanya’s rep later stated that the fighter had essentially been let off the hook, with the offending item turned over — and that it had been a gift from a fan, which Adesanya packed away without opening.
Adesanya fell victim to a fifth-round TKO at the hands of kickboxing rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281 on November 12, in a scene reminiscent to the pair’s second meeting in the ring. To that point, Adesanya had been winning the fight, and was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards.
