Israel Adesanya of the UFC was taken into custody at JFK Airport for possession of metal knuckles

Israel Adesanya of the UFC was taken into custody at JFK Airport for possession of metal knuckles

Israel Adesanya, a UFC fighter, had a rough few days in New York, and things got worse on Monday at JFK Airport.

During the main event of UFC 281, which took place on a Saturday at Madison Square Garden, Adesanya was defeated by Alex Pereira and consequently lost his championship belt.

And the Port Authority Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that he was arrested on Tuesday at 1:57 p.m. after TSA officers discovered metal knuckles in his possession at a screening area.

New York law prohibits the use of metal knuckles.

Adesanya was apparently freed by authorities, though.

Adesanya’s manager, Tim Simpson, told TMZ Sports, “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.”

The New Zealander Adesanya was knocked out in the middleweight championship bout by his Brazilian opponent, Pereira. Although Pereira was throwing punches at Adesanya, Adesanya thinks referee Marc Goddard called an early end to the fight.

Adesanya, protected by the octagon’s fence, went down to the canvas as Pereira continued to swing at him, but he quickly got up. While Adesanya was still standing when referee Alan Goddard stopped the fight in the fifth round, the underdog Pereira was already celebrating his victory.