UFC great Dustin Poirier has admitted to struggling with alcohol issues following his arrest at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on a misdemeanor charge of public drunkenness.
‘Im at the point where I need some help, walking away from fighting hasn’t been easy on me and alcohol isn’t the answer,’ Poirier wrote Tuesday on Instagram. ‘It has ruined my father’s life and I will not allow it to ruin mine, my family deserve me at 100%. I’m trying to do everything I can to get my mind right and take the right next steps.’
Earlier in the day, police footage from Sunday’s arrest was released by Atlanta police, showing an irate Poirier threatening to fight a police officer.
‘Let’s go, big dog,’ Poirier is heard telling the officer, who remained out of frame as his body camera recorded the confrontation on Sunday. ‘Let’s go, big dog. What’s up? Buncha hos. Let’s go. Let’s go. F***in’ lying motherf****r.’
The officer maintained his cool throughout the exchange with Poirier. Even when the former UFC lightweight champion squared up to fight or gestured towards frightened female flight attendants staffing the gate, the officer kept a calm speaking tone.
‘Relax, relax, relax, relax,’ the officer is heard telling Poirier, who only grew more agitated.
Dustin Poirier is seen threatening a police officer at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in disturbing footage from his arrest on a public drunkenness charge
UFC great Dustin Poirier has admitted to struggling with alcohol issues following his arrest at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on a misdemeanor charge of public drunkeness
‘Yeah, pulled me off the plane, all my boys went to the f***in’ crib,’ he said. ‘Now, what the f***?’
One of the attendants calmly explained ‘this is why he got pulled off the plane.’
But when the officer asked if he was, indeed, ‘Dustin Poirier,’ the former UFC star exploded.
‘Man, f*** you, bro,’ Poirier said before gesturing to the flight attendants. ‘F*** you, and f*** her… And f*** her.’
Poirier continued threatening to fight as the officer called for backup. At one point, the officer is seen reaching across his body camera to put his hand on what appears to be the handle of his taser.
‘You gonna tase me, dog?’ Poirier asked. ‘I’m gonna bang you up.’
Confusingly, Poirier went from threatening to fight officers to congratulating them
But with the arrival of a second officer, Poirier’s demeanor changed entirely. After telling officers ‘arrest me,’ he confusingly congratulated the officer he’d been terrorizing.
After being handcuffed, Poirier told the officer to ‘pound’ his fist before telling the man he did ‘a great job.’
The arrest came on the same day Poirier reposted a Father’s Day tribute shared by his wife on Instagram, which showed him smiling alongside his two children.
Shortly after news of his arrest broke, Poirier returned to social media to share a message with fans. ‘Love you all. I’m working on myself,’ he wrote on Instagram.
Poirier, a former UFC Interim Lightweight champion, is widely regarded as one of the finest fighters of his generation at 155lbs.
Flight attendants are seen walking away from Poirier as an officer reaches for his taser
Poirier squared up to fight the officer, who kept a calm presence throughout the exchange
During his career he defeated Conor McGregor twice in three bouts, as well as Michael Chandler, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje, among others.
He retired last year following his final fight at UFC 318.
Just a few weeks ago, prior to UFC Freedom 250 hosted at the White House, Poirier was asked about how he was coping since retiring from the fight game.
‘Thanks for asking. I’m trying to navigate it bro. I’m good. Some days I’m great, some days I’m not so good. It’s up and down honestly,’ he told Full Send MMA.
‘If I’m not working towards something or trying to better my family, I’m a danger to myself’.
The Daily Mail has sought comment from Poirier’s representatives.
