Matt Brown rallies behind Dustin Poirier after Atlanta airport arrest

Retired UFC star Dustin Poirier was arrested on a misdemeanour charge of public drunkenness at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport before being released on bail. Videos of his interactions with a police officer have since circulated online, prompting fellow UFC veteran Matt Brown to speak out in his defence.

Brown addressed the incident on his podcast “The Fighter vs. The Writer,” arguing that Poirier’s reputation should not be reduced to a single episode. “I don’t know Dustin personally, but from what I know of him in the public eye and experiences that I hear from others — we can’t let one night define Dustin Poirier,” Brown said.

The 45-year-old was measured but direct in his assessment of Poirier’s character and state of mind. “Dustin is in the public eye and he’s known as a good guy so we see that and it’s just so out of character for him. So, we start questioning what his mental health is? I think he’s perfectly fine. He recognized the problem, said ‘I need help.’ What’s that saying in [Alcoholics Anonymous]? Acceptance is the first step or whatever. I think he’s still a good dude. He had a fking bad night. Airports fking suck anyway.”

Brown was careful not to dismiss the seriousness of the arrest entirely, but expressed confidence that Poirier would handle the situation responsibly. “It’s not just nothing at all. But he owned it. Good to do that, Dustin. Own it, fix it and because you’ve been such a good dude, and because you are a respectable fighter in this community, we’ve all got your back, bro. Now go take care of yourself. We’ve got your back. Just don’t repeat it.”

Poirier, a former interim UFC lightweight champion who retired from competition earlier this year, has acknowledged the incident publicly. In a post on his Instagram stories, he wrote: “Love you all. I’m working on myself.”