UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya released a public apology following his distasteful remarks towards fellow MW fighter Kevin Holland in a heated social media exchange.

After Holland accused The Stylebender of allegedly being on steroids, the 31-year-old Nigerian-born New Zealand fighter responded in an Instagram story and threatened to rape him.

After getting some public backlash, including a lashing from New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, an apologetic Izzy took to Twitter to rectify his mistake.

Here's Adesanya's full statement, which he posted on social media on Thursday.

Trash talking between fighters is quite common in the UFC, particularly among contenders looking to make a name for themselves in a bid to get a title fight. It's basically the blueprint of success for Chael Sonnen and Colby Covington, so more fighters are taking that route.

Holland has been known to play mind games with his verbal assault, even mid-fight. Adesanya, however, is not one to back down from anybody, in or out of the cage.

However, he is a UFC champion and must carry himself in a dignified manner. Rape jokes will no longer fly in this day and age and Izzy should have known better.

This rivalry, meanwhile, potentially sets up a 185-lb. bout between Adesanya and Holland. But given the results of their respective last bouts, it seems unlikely that they will cross paths immediately.

While The Stylebender kept his MW title, he failed to become a dual UFC champion, succumbing to Light Heavyweight titlist Jan Blachowicz in his last bout.

The same goes for Holland, who also lost his last match against Derek Brunson last week.