Conor McGregor has publicly addressed the recent off-cage troubles of his longtime rival, Dustin Poirier. During an appearance on the Smash Cast Podcast, the former two-division UFC Champion weighed in on Poirier’s recent arrest for public intoxication at an Atlanta airport.
McGregor offered blunt advice, urging the retired Lightweight to take absolute accountability instead of attributing the incident to his family history.
The discussion started when host Chael Sonnen asked Conor McGregor what advice he would offer Poirier, noting how quickly public opinion can turn on fighters.
The Notorious did not hold back and warned Poirier against downplaying the arrest. The Irishman emphasized that laughing off early mistakes often leads to worse situations. He advised Poirier to treat the matter with absolute seriousness to avoid slipping deeper into personal trouble.
McGregor also criticized Poirier’s recent podcast interview, in which the Louisiana native linked his airport drinking incident to emotional stress over his father. McGregor rejected that explanation entirely and stated that Dustin needs to stop blaming his dad and take responsibility for his own actions.
In a sudden shift, McGregor then questioned Poirier’s post-retirement decisions, claiming it was st*pid for him to use steroids after stepping away from the UFC. Despite the harsh tone, McGregor concluded by wishing Dustin Poirier well for the sake of his wife and children.
The old karma is a mirror shout. It It’s not good to see. If I was to say something to him, I would say, “Take this with absolute seriousness.
He has to take accountability. I seen something he came out and he was like his father. He blamed his father. You have to take accountability, my man. That’s it. I’m not going to go deeper. I don’t want to go into it. It’s not my business, you know, and for the sake of his family and his children, his new child born, I hope he comes right,” McGregor explained. (Timestamp: 12:41-13:46)
Given the history between the pair, McGregor’s comments immediately attracted attention across the MMA community. Their rivalry remains one of the UFC’s most memorable, stretching back more than a decade.
McGregor knocked out Poirier in their first meeting at UFC 178 in 2014 before Poirier evened the score with a second-round TKO at UFC 257 seven years later. Their trilogy concluded at UFC 264 after McGregor suffered a broken leg at the end of the opening round, handing Poirier another victory.
This reaction from McGregor directly follows Poirier’s detailed interview on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast with Steven Bartlett. Poirier used the appearance to explain the events surrounding his June arrest.
The 37-year-old was detained at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after a dispute with airline staff and police and was charged with public intoxication.
During the interview, Poirier revealed the emotional weight he has carried since retiring from MMA last July following his UFC 318 bout against Max Holloway.
He explained that his 74-year-old father is a severe alcoholic who is currently homeless. He had his own struggles with alcohol. Alcohol has ruined his life..He has been alcoholic my entire life…He’s homeless right now. And I tried to help him out and he’s back out on the street.” Dustin told Steven Bartlett at the podcast.
According to Poirier, he stopped at an airport bar and began drinking before the incident that resulted in his arrest. The arrest has already had significant consequences outside the courtroom.
To prevent a repeat incident, The Diamond has committed to complete sobriety, deleted social media apps from his phone, and resumed therapy as part of his recovery. In a recent Instagram Story, Poirier revealed that he has now been sober for 28 days.
While McGregor and Poirier clearly disagree on how the incident should be viewed, both interviews have shifted the conversation beyond a single arrest. They have highlighted the pressures athletes often face after stepping away from competition, the challenges of maintaining sobriety during emotionally difficult periods, and the importance of taking responsibility while seeking help.
