Cody Garbrandt Speaks Out on UFC Retirement Support, Defends Dustin Poirier After Airport Snafu

For the average fan, Dustin Poirier's recent airport snafu was just another headline, a retired UFC star making the news for the wrong reasons.  For fellow UFC veteran Cody Garbrandt, it was something else entirely.

Instead, it served as a reminder of a reality many fighters rarely confront until they're living it: the difficult transition away from the sport. Garbrandt knows that day isn't far off for him either.

As the former UFC Bantamweight Champion prepares for his return at UFC 329, he admitted retirement is something he thinks about more than ever. In his view, Poirier's recent struggles underscore why the UFC should do more to help fighters navigate life once their careers inside the Octagon come to an end.

Cody Garbrandt Hopes the UFC Improves Support for Retired Fighters

At 35 years old, Garbrandt understands he has more fights behind him than ahead of him. While he's still chasing success inside the Octagon, he's also aware that every fighter eventually has to face life without competition.

Speaking to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn, Garbrandt said his biggest hope is simply to retire on his own terms, rather than be forced to continue fighting due to financial pressures or lingering injuries.

"I don't know how many years I have left in the sport, but I pray that God lets me stay healthy, intact, and I can leave on my own terms," Garbrandt said.

The former champion pointed out that many fighters aren't fortunate enough to make that choice. According to “No Love,” the loss of a fighting career affects far more than just a paycheck.

"I think a lot of fighters don't get that opportunity. They have to fight because they need the money. They have to fight injured," he explained.

Challenges of Adjusting to Life Outside the Octagon

Garbrandt described retirement as being "released back into the wild," saying fighters suddenly lose the structure, purpose, and drive that have defined their lives for years.

While he encouraged athletes to prepare financially for life after competition, he also believes the promotion has a role to play - "I wish the UFC did a little more in helping us out with that: healthcare, insurance, 401K," he added.

Garbrandt acknowledged that stepping away from a career that fighters have spent their entire lives pursuing can be frightening, especially when the paychecks, sponsorships, and daily routine disappear overnight.

Those comments carry extra weight considering Garbrandt's own journey. Growing up in difficult circumstances in rural Ohio, he has often credited mixed martial arts with giving his life direction. 

The former bantamweight champion has repeatedly said that fighting gave him purpose and helped him avoid the path that many people around him ultimately took.

Cody Garbrandt Defends Dustin Poirier After Recent Airport Incident

Garbrandt's comments were sparked by Poirier's recent airport arrest, which came just months after the former interim lightweight champion retired from professional MMA.

Poirier has since publicly apologized and spoken openly about the personal struggles he has faced while adjusting to retirement. Garbrandt believes that honesty deserves compassion rather than criticism.

"I feel for Dustin. I get choked up just thinking about it because he's such a good dude," Garbrandt said.

He felt much of the reaction surrounding the 37-year-old's arrest ignored the bigger picture of everything the Louisiana native has accomplished throughout his career.

"People are just ridiculing him in the media for one slip up he had," Garbrandt said. "This dude has done so many amazing things inside the sport, outside the sport, the foundations that he's done, how many people he's helped in his life."

Cody Garbrandt on Poirier's Public Apology

Garbrandt (15-7-0) added that seeing Poirier apologize publicly after a single mistake was difficult to watch, especially given that "The Diamond" has built a reputation as one of the sport's most respected figures.

"Hey, man, you made a mistake. It happens. We're humans. We're not perfect," he said. "It's tough to see because Dustin is such a good dude deep down. He had one little mistake."

As Garbrandt prepares to face Adrian Yanez at UFC 329, retirement isn't his immediate concern. But watching one of the UFC's most respected veterans navigate life after fighting has clearly left an impression.