ATLANTA — Dustin Poirier was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, June 21, 2026, and charged with public drunkenness, a misdemeanor in Georgia. He was booked at 6:38 p.m. ET and released from Clayton County Jail a few hours later.

Poirier was removed from a Delta Airlines flight at Gate D36. Atlanta Police Department body camera footage released on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, showed Poirier shouting profanities at airport employees and officers and threatening to fight a police officer. The department stated the primary responding officer recognized Poirier and requested additional units due to his combative behavior.

The footage captured Poirier asking an officer, "You're gonna Tase me, bro?" and stating, "If you want to arrest me, then go ahead." It also showed him saying, "Let's go, big dog. What's up? Buncha hos. Let's go. Let's go. F--king lying motherf--ker," and "I'll fight you right now, I'll go with you right now." After being handcuffed, the footage showed Poirier telling an officer, "You did a great job, bro," and offering a fist bump.

Poirier made a court appearance on Monday, June 22, 2026. Later that day, he posted a message on Instagram that read, "Love you all. I'm working on myself."

On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Poirier posted a statement on Instagram. "I'm at the point where I need some help, walking away from fighting hasn't been easy on me and alcohol isn't the answer," he said. "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."

Poirier, 37, retired from mixed martial arts in 2025 after a loss to Max Holloway by unanimous decision. In January 2026, he stated he had completed a 40-day sobriety challenge leading up to New Year's Day. "I had retired and had so much time on my hands, and I'm always battling something in my mind," Poirier said at the time. "I've always drank alcohol growing up, but it was celebratory — vacation, get-togethers, things like that. Now I'm retired, and I'm sitting at home, and I can have a drink every day. I don't have to wake up and run miles, I don't have to wake up and go to the gym, or be somewhere. Just wanted to pull back from drinking." Poirier holds a professional record of 30 wins, 10 losses, and one no contest, and was the interim UFC Lightweight champion.