Dustin Poirier admits he 'needs help' as bodycam footage of arrest emerges

Dustin Poirier has released a statement admitting that he 'needs help' after footage of him being arrested for alleged public drunkenness emerged.

Shocking reports on Monday confirmed that popular former UFC star Poirier had been arrested on Sunday for alleged public drunkenness in Georgia.

The 37-year-old retired from MMA last year following an impressive 16 year career that saw him compete for for the UFC lightweight title on several occasions.

Since then, Poirier has regularly appeared as a pundit for ESPN and the UFC, but has previously admitted to Joe Rogan that he was struggling with the fact that his fighting career was now over.

It appears this led to his arrest on Monday, as the former fighter was apprehended by police in Atlanta, Georgia at an airport after he was allegedly was thrown off a flight.

Bodycam footage released by police shows a clearly angered Poirier threatening officers, asking them to fight while shockingly using racial slurs.

"Bunch of h***s pulled me off the plane, all my boys went to the f*****g crib," Poirier told the officer referring to women working at the airport.

When identified by officer as Dustin Poirier, the former UFC fighter got confrontational, saying: "Man f*** you, I'll fight you right now, I'll go with you right now, let's go.It's going to be bad my n****"

As the officer draws his taser, Poirier asked: "You gonna tase me? Bro i'm gonna bang you up."

Eventually calmed down and complied as another officer arrived to arrest him, before fist bumping the official who filmed the incident, adding: "You did a great job, you did what you could."

Whether or not Poirier was being sincere or sarcastic is up for interpretation.

Poirier has since been released on bail but faces punishments of up to one year in jail, up to $1,000 (£757) in fines, or both with public drunkenness labelled as a misdemeanour in Georgia.

Dustin Poirier admits he 'needs help' in heartbreaking statement

When news of Poirier's arrest initially broke, he released a short statement on social media saying that he is 'working' on himself and expressing love to his fans.

READ MORE: Colby Covington divides UFC fans with Dustin Poirier post hours after his arrest

But now that footage of the incident has emerged online, Poirier has addressed his arrest more directly, admitting that he believes he needs to get some help following his father's issues with alcohol.

"I'm at the point where I need some help, walking away from fighting hasn't been easy on me, and alcohol isn't the answer," Poirier wrote on his Instagram story.

"It has ruined my father's life and I will not allow it to ruin mine, my family deserve me at 100%. I'm trying to do everything I can to get my mind right and take the right next steps."