UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has apologised following the use of the word “rape” while addressing his fellow fighter Kevin Holland.
Adesanya’s apology followed attacks for the comment in a deleted video.
“Bro, I will fu**in’ rape you,” Adesanya had said in an Instagram video directed at Kevin Holland.
In a statement on Friday morning posted to Twitter, the Nigerian-born New Zealand MMA fighter admitted that his comment was faulty, noting that he “crossed the line”.
“Last week fight talk escalated to a point in which I crossed the line. I understand the gravity of this word and how it can affect and hurt other people apart from my opponent, although that was never my intention.
“I am still growing under the spotlight, and I take this as a lesson to be more selective with words under pressure,” the statement read.
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson had appeared to call on the UFC to take action against Adesanya.
Robertson said, “There is never a time to make flippant comments about rape. It’s just not something anybody should do.
“I’m sure Israel understands that. I believe he has deleted the tweet in question. It will be up to the UFC as to what they do.
“But I would certainly be making clear to him, and to anybody actually, that we have to take rape seriously.
“It’s not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all.”
