Sports

Dustin Poirier Arrested for Public Drunkenness on Father's Day; Colby Covington Responds

By Michael Aldon Athlon Sports

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier was arrested on Father's Day, June 21, 2026, in Georgia on a charge of public drunkenness according to TMZ. The 37-year-old, who retired in July 2025, was booked at 6:38 p.m. and released just after 10 p.m. that same evening.

According to Clayton County court records, Poirier was arrested for a misdemeanor "public drunk" offense.

Here is his mugshot (via Happy Punch on X):

Why Was Poirier Arrested?

The circumstances leading up to the arrest remain unclear, but Poirier made his initial court appearance on Monday morning.

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren insinuated the situation was not serious, posting a video of Poirier on X playfully wrestling with Askren's friends:

As of the publishing of this article, Askren's claims are unfounded, as it is still unclear whether Poirier was arrested at the airport or at another location.

In Georgia, a conviction for public drunkenness can carry a penalty of up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The charge is a misdemeanor, not a felony, and it remains unclear what specifically led to the former champion's arrest.

Poirier Breaks Silence, Covington Reacts

Shortly after the news of his arrest broke, Poirier issued a brief public statement on his Instagram Stories (screenshot via Championship Rounds on X):

"Love you all, I'm working on myself," he wrote.

Recently retired UFC fighter Colby Covington reacted to news of Poirier's arrest, joking at his expense (via Colby Covington on Instagram):

View this post on Instagram

"I want to take a moment and have a toast to 'Father of the Year' Dustin Poirier," Covington stated.

"Nothing says role model and family man like being arrested for public intoxication at 37 years old at 6:38 PM on Father's Day," Covington added, sarcastically.

The two former UFC fighters have a long-standing, bitter rivalry that originated at American Top Team (ATT) in Florida and escalated into frequent trash-talk in media interviews (via The Schmo on YouTube):

Poirier's Struggles With Sobriety

This is not the first time Poirier has been open about his personal struggles. In an interview earlier this year, he admitted that alcohol had become a battle for him since he retired from the sport:

"I had retired and have so much time on my hands, and I'm always battling something in my mind," he revealed to Ariel Helwani on "The Ariel Helwani Show."

"It's like I've always drank alcohol, you know, growing up, but celebratory, like on vacation. get-togethers, things like that. But like I was retired, and I'm sitting at home, and I can have a drink every day," Poirier continued.

He detailed how the lack of discipline in his retired life, which was ever-present during his MMA career, helped keep him on the right path.

"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... I wanted to pull back from drinking," Poirier said.

Poirier, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history who never won the undisputed championship belt.

He boasts a legendary resume, having defeated top names like Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, and current UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje. He retired from the sport after his final fight against Max Holloway at UFC 318 in July 2025.

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 7:23 PM.

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