TLDR
- Dustin Poirier was arrested for public drunkenness at Atlanta Airport on Father’s Day
- He refuses to watch the viral arrest video but acknowledges he was “completely in the wrong”
- Poirier is seeking to contact the arresting officer to thank him for professional conduct
- The fighter revealed thoughts about his estranged father led him to drink at the airport
- Poirier faces potential punishment of up to one year in jail or $1,000 in fines
Sources: mmafighting.com | talksport.com
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier says he still hasn’t watched the viral video of his arrest at Atlanta Airport on Father’s Day. The retired fighter gave his first public interview about the incident during an appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast.
Poirier was arrested for public drunkenness on June 15, which was Father’s Day. Days after the arrest, body camera footage was released showing Poirier acting erratic and threatening a police officer before eventually being taken into custody.
Apologies to Airport Staff and Police
During the interview, Poirier explained what he believes started the incident. “The desk agent might have saw I was intoxicated and was like, ‘No, you can’t get on the plane,’ and that might have [been] what started it,” he said.
The fighter issued direct apologies to those involved. “I do want to apologize to those desk agents, whoever they are, and the police for having to put up with me, man,” Poirier stated.
Dustin Poirier says he’s open to fighting in the UFC again for a rematch with Conor McGregor 👀
“I’m still under contract with the UFC. There’s definitely a chance. If it’s the right fight I’ll come back for sure.
I’d probably fight Conor if that came about. Nate Diaz, I’d come… pic.twitter.com/pFbvskc8FH
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 6, 2026
Poirier has asked his lawyer in Atlanta to help him contact the arresting officer. He wants to call or write a letter to thank the officer for his professional handling of the situation.
“I just want to tell him how great of a job he did dealing with a person in that condition, and how professional he was,” Poirier said. “He was incredible. It could’ve been so much worse.”
The arrest video shows Poirier eventually calming down and giving the officer a fist bump near the end of the encounter. Poirier reflected on how differently the situation could have gone with a different officer.
“What if it was a young, hot head cop who wanted to be a superstar, or wanted to… it could’ve been horrible,” he explained. “I could be sitting here facing serious charges.”
Father’s Day Emotions and Family History
Poirier revealed that thoughts about his own father contributed to the incident. He described a troubled relationship with his father, who has struggled with alcohol abuse for years.
“He’s ruined his marriages, he’s ruined his relationships, he’s ruined his friendship, he’s ruined his relationships with his family, with his kids,” Poirier said of his father. “He has two kids who won’t speak to him at all.”
Poirier’s father has been jailed multiple times for alcohol-related offenses and is currently homeless. “I try to help him, and he’s back on the street,” Poirier said.
On Father’s Day, these emotions came to a head. “I was traveling to work, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about my father,” Poirier explained. “I started drinking at the airport, and that’s what kind of led to the incident.”
The fighter has been attending therapy for years to deal with these issues. “Alcohol has never benefited me, especially in times where I’m mentally not the best,” he said.
Poirier confirmed he will not watch the arrest video. His wife and a friend have watched it, and he has pieced together what happened from their accounts.
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“To see myself in that condition, disrespecting police officers, disrespecting workers at the airport disrespecting myself, disrespecting my family, I just don’t feel like it’s going to benefit me to see that,” he said.
Poirier has not yet had his first court appearance related to the incident. In Georgia, public drunkenness carries a potential punishment of up to one year in jail or up to $1,000 in fines, or both.
