Nigerian-born UFC Star, Israel Adesanya arrested at US Airport

Barely four days after he lost his UFC middleweight championship to a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya was arrested Wednesday at JFK Airport in New York while going through security screenings.

It was learnt that Adesanya was taken into custody near JFK’s American Airlines terminal on Wednesday afternoon, just before 2:00 p.m. local time, TMZ reports.

He allegedly possessed brass knuckles, which are illegal in New York state and is a misdemeanor offence.

If convicted, he 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 uncertain 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.