Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has promised to take legal action following a road rage incident that saw racial slurs launched at him by a man challenging him to a fight.
The encounter, widely circulated on social media, appeared to last several minutes, though much of what was said could not be made out on video clips that have leaked to date.
The incident took place Wednesday in New Zealand, where the UFC star resides.
“The Last Stylebender” opened up about the matter on Friday, and was clearly upset at being unable to go about his business in day-to-day life without being challenged to a fight – which no doubt would have gone very poorly for the individual in question.
In a statement to the New Zealand Herald, Adesanya confirmed that an unnamed man had “stopped his car, racially abused me, and challenged me to a fight,” adding that he had been in contact with police and would be pressing charges.
Describing the incident, Adesanya’s statement went on to day that “On Wednesday morning, I was leaving a cafe on K Rd when a passing car slowed, and an occupant began yelling racial abuse and challenging me to fight. I smiled, waved it off, and continued to my car. The vehicle stopped, and the abuse continued. I again waved it off. The car then parked, and the passenger got out, approached me aggressively, continued his torrent of abuse, and demanded I fight him. I tried to de-escalate the situation repeatedly. As he got closer, I asked bystanders to call the police.
“He then entered my personal space, and I felt threatened. To protect myself, I became more forceful in my language and defensive,” Adesanya continued. “Though he paused, the abuse continued, so I left him with some choice words, cautiously moved to my car, and drove away.
“It’s ridiculous that I can’t buy a pie after training without some idiot screaming despicable things and asking for a fight while his mates film from the sidelines. Threatening violence is no joke. It’s very dangerous, and incidents like this must not be glorified online. I hope in the future people say something rather than get their phones out to film.”
A witness to the altercation, however, told the Herald that Adesanya had told the man he would “pay for you to fight me,” and spit at him. “I immediately recognised him and from what I witnessed I was quite disappointed to see him acting in this manner in public, swearing and spitting at the other guy and grabbing his privates,” they told the Herald.
Adesanya last competed in the cage just weeks ago at UFC 305, losing to middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.
