Retired UFC star Dustin Poirier threatens officer in bodycam footage from Atlanta arrest

Bodycam footage released by the Atlanta Police Department shows retired UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier threatening to fight a police officer before being arrested for public intoxication in Atlanta on Sunday, June 22.

In the video, Poirier grows increasingly agitated after the officer recognises him. He removes his backpack and issues a direct challenge to the officer.

“I’ll fight you right now,” Poirier says in the footage. “I’ll go with you right now. Let’s go. Yeah, tell ‘em. Tell ‘em to come on, because it’s going to be bad. What’s up? You want to fight?”

As the officer calls for backup and apparently draws a taser, Poirier continues the confrontation. “You gonna tase me, dog? I’m gonna bang you up,” he says. When additional officers arrive, Poirier allows himself to be handcuffed without further resistance. In a notable turn, he then offered a fist bump to the original officer. “Hey, pound it,” Poirier said. “You did a great job. You did what you could.”

Poirier was booked into Clayton County Jail for public drunkenness and released a few hours later. In Georgia, public drunkenness is a misdemeanour carrying a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Poirier briefly acknowledged the incident on his Instagram Stories, writing: “Love you all. I’m working on myself.”

Fellow retired UFC veteran King Green defended Poirier on social media, arguing the timing of the arrest — 6:30 p.m. on Father’s Day — was unreasonable. “With all the s—t we go through, let me enjoy my drink and leave me the f—k alone,” Green said.

Poirier, 37, announced his retirement from MMA following a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway in a farewell bout at UFC 318 last July. The Louisiana native had a decorated career at lightweight, challenging for the title on multiple occasions and recording wins over Conor McGregor twice, Holloway twice, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis, Jim Miller, Dan Hooker, and Benoit St. Denis.