Israel Adesanya, a former middleweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has reportedly been detained for allegedly carrying brass knuckles through security at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, according to the Daily Mail.
Adesanya, 33, was detained by Port Authority police in the American Airlines terminal at around 1:57 EST after losing his championship to Alex Pereira in New York on Saturday via TKO.
He was arrested, according to a Port Authority spokeswoman who told DailyMail.com that he was charged with having “metal knuckles.”
Requests for comment from DailyMail.com were not immediately answered by UFC spokespersons.
In New York, having brass knuckles is a Class A misdemeanor, and having them on an airplane is prohibited.
Where Adesanya reportedly kept the weapon is unknown.
On Saturday, longtime rivals Adesanya and Pereira squared off for the UFC middleweight championship, with Pereira winning via knockout in the fourth round.
Adesanya should be “grateful” for the decision, according to Canadian boxer and trainer Firas Zahabi, who disputes accusations that referee Marc Goddard called the fight off too soon.
