“Oh, big time, man [I was in a tough spot after the UFC 291 loss]. That was probably one of the lowest points in my life, you know. I really felt down… I just felt out of sync with life after that last fight,” Dustin Poirier revealed to Theo Von on his podcast after his UFC 291 scrap. This was one of their most memorable moments after Poirier got knocked out by Justin Gaethje and opened up to Von about the emotional toll it took.

We know the story! One of the most technical and ruthless sluggers in the promotion, ‘The Diamond’ has earned his stripes. And despite never winning an undisputed title, he has earned something just as meaningful! A permanent place in the hearts of MMA fans around the world. One of those admirers is also a close friend of Poirier’s, comedian Theo Von, who is currently going viral for an emotional clip reacting to Poirier being choked out by Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

And in a more recent clip, this loyalty to his longtime friend was allegedly put to the test during a heated incident that quickly went viral. A video posted by the superfan Instagram account JstBld shows an intoxicated man allegedly insulting the UFC veteran in front of Von, sparking an intense reaction from the stand-up comedian. While outlets like TMZ and New York Daily News have reported it to be a simple incident of heckling, the 136k follower account has claimed that it had ‘The Diamond’ involved in some way or the other.

In the clip, the man repeatedly invades Von’s personal space while making derogatory comments that are actually not audible. Frustrated and visibly angered, Von momentarily grabs the man by the neck in what appears to be a brief chokehold before the situation is diffused. The video has since taken over the internet, igniting debate across social media platforms.

This incident took place at The Twelve Thirty Club in Nashville on May 2. This was one day before Theo brought his stand-up tour “Return of the Rat” to Bridgestone Arena right across the street. TMZ spoke with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department where it was confirmed that they responded to a misdemeanor assault complaint about the incident 2 days later. The investigation determined there will be no action taken concerning the complaint.

Known for his laid-back, quirky humor and multiple appearances with Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience, Theo Von rarely finds himself at the center of such confrontations. However, his close friendship with Poirier, who hails from the same Louisiana roots as Von, appears to have struck a nerve in this situation.

Unfortunately, such run-ins aren’t uncommon in the world of combat sports. Poirier and his wife, Jolie, were themselves involved in a disturbing incident back in 2023 when a fan crossed the line during a public appearance. These repeated violations of boundaries continue to leave fighters and their loved ones in difficult, sometimes volatile, situations.

Dustin Poirier’s infamous altercation with a fan at the Mardi Gras parade in Louisiana

In February 2023, Dustin Poirier and his wife, Jolie Poirier, were part of the Mardi Gras parade in Youngsville, Louisiana. What was meant to be a fun community celebration quickly took a dark turn when a fan confronted the couple with a sign that read, “Hey Dustin, your wife’s in my DMs.” This phrase was previously used by Conor McGregor after UFC 264 in 2021, and it clearly hit a nerve.

Upon seeing the sign, Poirier called the man over and slapped him. The man responded by flipping Poirier off, which led Dustin to attempt to exit his vehicle to confront him further. However, he was restrained by his wife, Jolie, before things could escalate any further. Later, during a podcast appearance on This Past Weekend with Theo Von, Poirier shared a disturbing story from another Mardi Gras event—this time involving his wife being inappropriately touched by a man in the crowd. Poirier recalled:

“My wife was leaning over a fence talking to somebody, and then guys from next door came over and bent over her back while she was bending over and put his hand on her stomach and started talking in her ear. Bro, I ripped him off. I had a buddy of mine who fights. He started dropping this other guy’s people left and right. A hundred percent, every shot that landed, everybody fell.”

Even reading about these situations gives an eerie feeling. We can only imagine the emotional toll it takes on fighters and their families when their personal space and safety are so blatantly disrespected. However, the context and reasoning behind Theo Von’s potential involvement still remain unclear. Let us know what you think in the comments.