Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier was arrested in Georgia on Sunday night on a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication. Poirier was released on bond but now faces up to a year in jail and a substantial fine if convicted of the offense. The arrest occurred less than a year after his appearance at UFC 318 against Max Holloway, representing a rare out-of-competition legal issue for the veteran fighter.
In recent months, Poirier has repeatedly expressed how much he misses active competition, admitting that some days are difficult without the routine of a fight camp. While official details regarding the specific circumstances of the arrest have not been made public, Poirier broke his social media silence to issue a brief statement to his supporters, promising that he is currently working on himself.
The news generated widespread concern among mixed martial arts fans, but it also prompted a harsh response from his former training partner turned rival, Colby Covington. Taking to social media, Covington utilized the opportunity to mock Poirier’s public persona.
“Nothing says role model and family man like being arrested for public intoxication at 37 years old at 6:38 p.m… on Father’s Day,” Covington stated. “Hit me up when you get out of the clink and I’ll send some RAB Zero to the father of the year.”
Poirier has not issued a response to Covington’s remarks. The animosity between the two dates back several years, intensifying significantly after Covington called out Poirier following his victory at UFC 272, though an official cage match never materialized. Covington retired from professional mixed martial arts earlier this year following an extended hiatus that began after his December 2024 loss to Joaquin Buckley.