Matt Brown defends Dustin Poirier after Atlanta arrest

UFC veteran Matt Brown says fans shouldn't judge Dustin Poirier too harshly following the former lightweight champion's arrest last month on a misdemeanor public drunkenness charge at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Brown, speaking on his podcast "The Fighter vs. The Writer," acknowledged that Poirier's behavior was out of character but praised him for taking responsibility. "We can't let one night define Dustin Poirier," Brown said, per Sherdog. "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."

Brown confident Poirier will address underlying issues

The 45-year-old retired fighter, who walked away from competition in 2021, stressed that Poirier recognized he needed help and owned his mistake publicly. "He recognized the problem, said 'I need help.' What's that saying in [Alcoholics Anonymous]? Acceptance is the first step or whatever," Brown said. "I think he's still a good dude. I think he's an intelligent enough guy. We hear him speaking. He's not punch drunk or anything. He had a f**king bad night. Airports f**king suck anyway."

Brown made clear the arrest was serious but said the MMA community would support Poirier if he takes corrective action. "It's not just nothing at all. But he owned it," he continued. "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."

Poirier posted a brief message on Instagram Stories after his release on bail, writing "Love you all. I'm working on myself." Video of his interaction with police circulated on social media following the June arrest.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Matt Brown: ‘We can't let one night define Dustin Poirier’