NRL journalist Paul Kent learns his fate over Sydney street brawl

New details have come to light after rugby league journalist Paul Kent admitted to his role in an altercation outside a popular pub.

Rugby league journalist Paul Kent was taunted that he liked to “bash women”, sparking a wild street brawl which ended with him being thrown upside down onto a tree and suffering serious injuries, a court has heard.

Kent fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where he failed in a bid to have a criminal charge dealt with on mental health grounds after footage showed him trading punches with another man after an 11-hour drinking session.

Kent was charged with one count of affray after he and another man, Tamer Uzun, were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical outside Totti’s Rozelle on April 27.

On Wednesday, Magistrate Jennifer Price dismissed an application to have the charges dealt under the Mental Health Act before Kent, through his lawyer George Elias, pleaded guilty.

Ms Price did not record a conviction against Kent and sentenced him to a two-year good behaviour bond.

Paul Kent was pleaded guilty over his role in an altercation outside a Rozelle pub. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short.

She took into account he suffered significant injuries, including six fractured ribs and a collapsed lung, noting that it was a case of him being his “own worst enemy” after he came off second best.

“It seems Mr Kent has come off significantly worse than the co-accused, having suffered quite severe injuries,” Ms Price said.

The court heard Kent had been drinking for 11 hours at a Rozelle pub and was walking home with friends when the incident occurred.

Widely-shared video showed Kent, 54, landing on his head against a tree after the brawl spilt from the sidewalk onto the street.

The court heard that it was alleged that the other man, Mr Uzun, asked Kent as he walked past if he was going to the match the following day.

Magistrate Price, reading from a police fact sheet, told the court that after Kent said “no”, it was alleged that Mr Uzun told Kent: “That’s right you like to bash women.”

Late last year Mr Kent was found not guilty of allegations he choked and assaulted his then-partner.

Neither Kent nor Mr Uzun knew each other prior to the incident, the court heard.

Kent had been drinking at the Sackville Hotel with several associates since 12pm that day, the court was told.

The same day Mr Uzun had been at Totti’s and was exiting when he became embroiled in a verbal stoush with Kent.

“You s***-talked me when I walked past,” Kent said, according to a police fact sheet.

Uzun: “Shut the f*** up, keep going.”

Kent: “You s***-talked me when I walked past, you’re a f***ing dog.”

Uzun: “You’re a f***ing dog.”

Kent: “Oh f*** off.”

According to a police fact sheet tendered to the court, Mr Uzun said: “C’mon you weak dog.”

Kent replied: “I’m staying here brother, I’m f***ing standing here, f***ing come here now … you dog head.”

The court heard that Kent had reported increasing his alcohol intake since being charged with the domestic violence offences in 2023.

Mr Elias told the court on Wednesday that people still approached him on the streets and made “outrageous” comments about the domestic violence charges despite them being dismissed by a court.

Paul Kent was involved in an altercation outside a Rozelle pub. Picture: Supplied.

Tamer Uzun was also charged with affray over his alleged involvement in the incident. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard.

The magistrate took into account that several people had tried to hold Kent back, as well as a security guard who tried to stand between him and Mr Uzun.

“People have tried to stop you and a security guard tried to get involved,” Ms Price said.

The court heard that several friends had agreed to write character references in support of Kent, including his former NRL360 co-host Ben Ikin, boxing trainer Johnny Lewis and Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson.

Ms Price took into account that Kent was suffering from a major depression disorder and alcohol use disorder at the time.

The 54-year-old was stood down by Fox Sports and The Daily Telegraph after the incident and the court heard that he had since lost his jobs.

Asked by journalists, as he exited court, if he was feeling relieved, Kent said: “I am. It’s all over.”

Mr Uzun, 35, was also charged with affray for his alleged role in the brawl.

He has pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again later this month.

Originally published as NRL journalist Paul Kent learns his fate over Sydney street brawl