UFC star Israel Adesanya says he was racially abused and challenged by a member of the public to a fight in a heated argument in Central Auckland earlier this week.
Footage shared to social media shows the MMA star in an exchange with an unidentified man who he said tried to provoke him into a confrontation.
In a statement to 1News, the 35-year-old said he was leaving a café on Karangahape Rd on Wednesday when a car slowed and an occupant began racially abusing him and challenging him to a fight.
Adesanya said he was “extremely disappointed” in the incident.
“We have been in contact with police and will be pressing charges.”
“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 said of the incident.
“He then entered my personal space, and I felt threatened. To protect myself, I became more forceful in my language and defensive. 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.”
1News contacted police for comment to confirm a complaint had been made about the incident but a spokesperson said they could not do so without a privacy waiver.
Last month, Adesanya was beaten by South African Dricus du Plessis at the UFC 305 event in Perth.
Since debuting in 2018, he has fought 28 times in the UFC for a record of 24 wins and four losses.
