UFC superstar Israel Adesanya admits he took the trash talk too far by using a 9/11 reference about Yoel Romero ... and now he's apologizing.
Adesanya was promoting his upcoming clash with Romero at UFC 248 when he told the media ... "I'll touch him enough times and eventually he'll crumble like the Twin Towers."
Obviously, 9/11 similes don't go over with the public -- and the backlash was swift and severe.
But, Sunday night, Adesanya apologized for the comment -- explaining he didn't mean to disrespect anyone .