Israel Adesanya has spoken out about a disturbing road rage incident in Auckland, New Zealand, which he says involved racist abuse and an aggressive challenge to fight. Footage of the altercation went viral, showing the former UFC middleweight champion, known as “The Last Stylebender,” and an unidentified man exchanging heated words.

According to Adesanya and his friends, the altercation began when the man approached Adesanya, hurled racial slurs, and demanded a fight. Adesanya attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the man continued his tirade, even getting out of his car to confront the fighter. Adesanya stated that he felt threatened as the man invaded his personal space, prompting him to become more defensive. Ultimately, Adesanya walked away, but not before voicing his frustration with the man’s behavior and the bystanders who chose to film the incident rather than intervene.

Adesanya expressed his disappointment over the encounter, emphasizing the seriousness of such confrontations and calling out the glorification of violence on social media. In his statement to local media, Adesanya shared that he is pressing charges against the aggressor and expressed his frustration that a simple errand after training turned into an ugly racial attack.

This incident highlights the complex relationship Adesanya has with New Zealand. He has previously criticized the local media for their lack of support and the government’s uneven treatment of MMA compared to other sports. Despite his efforts to bring attention to issues like racial abuse and violence, it remains to be seen whether local authorities will take meaningful action to protect him and others from similar harassment.

Adesanya’s calm response to the incident, combined with his frustration at the lack of action from those nearby, serves as a reminder that even high-profile athletes are not immune to racism and public harassment.