UFC star Israel Adesanya has thrown his support behind a new bill criminalising 'coward punches'.

The bill would amend the Crimes Act to criminalise strikes to the head or neck in situations where the victim is not able to defend themselves.

It would also amend the definition of murder in the Act if someone were to die from a coward punch.

National MP Paulo Garcia first introduced the bill, and he says clear legal consequences will be a good deterrent to stopping these attacks.

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