Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was detained on Wednesday for having metal knuckles at JFK Airport.
In New York, using metal knuckles is not permitted. Possession is a Class A misdemeanour. Metal knuckles are not allowed to be transported in carry-on bags, but the TSA does permit them to be stowed in checked luggage.
According to TMZ, Adesanya was detained on Wednesday about 2:00 p.m. local time close to the American Airlines terminal at JFK.
Adesanya's manager, Tim Simpson, said in a statement to MMA Fighting that the situation had been resolved, and the UFC fighter was leaving for home.
“Israel was handed a gift by a fan, which he put in his luggage,” Simpson said.
“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’s on his way home,” the statement read.
This comes on the heels of Adesanya’s UFC loss to Alex Pereira during a tough week for the Nigerian-New Zealander.