Poirier (30-10) was arrested last month at Hartsfield–Jackson
Atlanta International Airport for threatening to fight a police
officer while intoxicated. He even used a racial slur directed at
the officer. “The Diamond” was subsequently charged with public
drunkenness and is currently out on bail.

The former interim champion has now disclosed that the UFC reached
out and offered assistance.

Dustin Poirier explains Hunter Campbell's message after his
Atlanta airport arrest

Poirier recently revealed that UFC executive Hunter Campbell
reached out to him after his arrest. Campbell told him that the UFC
wouldn't abandon him in difficult times after he fought in the
promotion for over a decade and assured Poirier that they have his
back. However, Poirier didn't hear personally from Dana
White.

“Literally one day after the arrest and all that happened, Hunter
Campbell of the UFC reached out to me and asked what he could do,
that the UFC’s got my back, anything they could help with, to let
them know,†Poirier told Ariel Helwani. “I believe his exact words
were something along the lines of, ‘I can’t let somebody who’s
fought for this company for over 15 years try to handle all of this
on his own. We have your back. Let us know what you need from us.'
I haven’t heard from Dana. Hunter is the one who reached out.â€

Poirier owned up to his mistake without making any excuses and
openly admits to struggling with his mental health since retiring
from the UFC last year. He is still under contract with the
promotion and hasn't entirely ruled out a return, but he has
committed to sobriety long-term.

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Santiago
Ponzinibbio continues to fight for the love of the sport.

Ponzinibbio (30-9) is set to make his 21st UFC appearance against
Sam
Patterson (14-3) at
UFC Abu Dhabi. The 39-year-old MMA veteran recently explained
why he continues fighting.

Santiago Ponzinibbio explains his mindset before UFC Abu Dhabi
bout with Sam Patterson

Ponzinibbio claims he is financially set and can retire comfortably
if he wants to. However, the Argentine is forever a fighter at
heart and relishes the challenge of every new opponent. While
Ponzinibbio has the liberty to turn down offers at this stage in
his career, he says he accepts anyone the UFC pits against him.

“It's what I have in my blood,†Ponzinibbio said in a recent
interview. “It's my instinct. I love to fight. Thank God, I don't
need to fight more. If I want to stop, I can stop. It's not about
money; it's just about what I love. I love the competition, the
challenge. I can say, ‘No, I don't want this fight because there's
nothing to gain.' But no, I take every fight. I always take the
fight the company gives me.â€

Ponzinibbio has fought the who's who of the welterweight division
in his UFC career spanning more than a decade. However, he has
dropped three of his last four bouts and is coming off a stoppage
loss against Daniel
Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Patterson is coming off a decision loss
against Michael
Page that snapped a four-fight first-round finishing
streak.

McGregor (22-7) shared an update on the injury he picked up in his
recent loss to Max
Holloway at
UFC 329. “Notorious” suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his
right knee. The Irishman claims the injury is nearly identical to
the one he suffered on his left leg in his first fight against
Holloway in 2013, which he won via unanimous decision.

Conor McGregor says his Max Holloway injury mirrors his first
UFC meeting with Holloway

Considering McGregor had taken less than a year to recover from his
injury in 2013, he expects to return even sooner this time. The
Dubliner also revealed that he can walk without crutches and do leg
extension exercises.

“Update: It was ACL and meniscus,†McGregor wrote on X. “It is the
same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the
opposite leg. Quite shocking. I returned to competition within 9
months to fight Diego
Brandao back then. With today's regenerative medicine
advancements and improved training methods it is well within my
realm to return by next summer. I am walking without a crutch. I
done leg extension machine work the other day to no issue. So I can
walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance.â€

The former two-division champion believes he was perhaps saved from
worse damage. Highlighting how he could've gone down a dark path
had me emerged victorious against Holloway, McGregor sees the
silver lining to his injury.

“All very positive,†he added. “I am maximum discipline and have
maintained it fully since the bout. I wonder was I saved from
something worse here. I believe so. I would have attended the after
party as “the man†and who knows then. I believe I was saved. Thank
you God! On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and
well wishes everyone, your health is your wealth.â€

McGregor returned to action after five years in a welterweight
matchup against Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. He injured his
knee with the first kick he threw, forcing the referee to call a
stoppage loss for the Irish superstar at just 69 seconds of the
opening round. While there's growing speculation that McGregor was
already injured going into the bout, he, his coach John
Kavanagh and UFC CEO Dana White have shot down these
claims.