MMA fighter sentenced to 25 years in prison after confessing to murder
An MMA fighter has received a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to having killed a person. The crime reportedly transpired a couple of years ago.
The athlete in question is America's Andrew Osborne. As reported by NJ.com in May 2024, Osborne confessed that he'd stabbed a man to death. The stabbing transpired inside a hotel room at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.A., on Sept. 23, 2022.
Osborne was tracked down by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office detectives in collaboration with the Philadelphia police and was arrested three days after the killing. After the ensuing legal proceedings, he was faced with a 25-year prison term that was expected to be handed to him at his sentencing scheduled for Aug. 22, 2024.
According to the court documents put forth by the authorities, Osborne stabbed 47-year-old Brian Wilkinson in the neck and head in the victim's room. As indicated by the hotel's lock report, he entered the room at 7:11 am and exited it at 7:30 am. While exiting the room, he'd donned Wilkinson's pants and shoes. Wilkinson's body was discovered at 1:30 pm the same day.
Security camera footage from the hotel showed Osborne in the elevator of the tower Wilkinson was staying in and leaving the elevator on the same floor as Wilkinson's room. Additionally, Osborne and his wife were spotted in the security footage while exiting the hotel's parking garage.
Osborne's arrest came about in Philadelphia, while he left his house on Gaul Street.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, Andrew Osborne was sentenced after pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter. As reported by MMA Junkie, Osborne was accorded a punishment of 25 years that he'll have to serve in state prison, as confirmed by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
In regard to potential parole, he's obligated to serve at least 85 percent of his total term in New Jersey State Prison before any possibility of supervised release.
A look at Andrew Osborne's MMA record, most recent bout
Per Tapology, Andrew Osborne holds an amateur MMA record of 2-0. His professional record stands at seven victories, 11 defeats, one draw, and one NC (No Contest).
Born in June 1988, the American athlete went by the moniker, 'Ozzy.' He partook in pro mixed martial arts bouts in organizations such as World Series of Fighting (later rebranded as PFL), Ring of Combat, and CES MMA.
Osborne's most recent fight was a first-round TKO defeat against Leon Davis in a lightweight bout at CES MMA 45 on Aug. 11, 2017. Osborne notably competed in the welterweight division.
He reportedly trained at Angel's Gym and fought out of Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.A. Moreover, it was noted that he retired from the sport of mixed martial arts in 2017, per NJ105.com.