Sean Strickland has changed his stance on Dustin Poirier after publicly criticizing the former UFC interim lightweight champion in the aftermath of his recent arrest.
Poirier was arrested over the July 4 weekend at an Atlanta airport after an incident that began when he was removed from a flight. Video of the encounter quickly spread online, and Poirier later addressed the situation, expressing regret for his actions and thanking the police officer involved for handling the situation professionally.
Strickland walks back his criticism
When Poirier first spoke about the incident, Strickland dismissed his explanation on social media. He questioned Poirier’s comments about his mental state and called him “a selfish.”
After speaking directly with Poirier, however, Strickland shared on Twitter that he admitted he had judged the situation too quickly.
“I spoke to Dustin and he is legitimately messed up by his actions,”
“I thought he was just doing PR clean up tbh… I guess not everyone is a POS like me.
“So yeah, I repent and I am sorry Dustin.”
Strickland also said he hopes Poirier does not lose Bud Light as a sponsor because of the incident.
A change in perspective
The apology drew attention because Strickland has built a reputation for rarely backing away from his opinions. It also comes after he previously opened up about his own mental health in an Instagram video back in March 2024 despite his success inside the Octagon.
“I have everything — I’m rich, I’m famous,”
“Like, I have everything I’ve ever f****** wanted, and I still am mentally unwell.”
Poirier retired from MMA competition in July 2025 after falling to longtime rival Max Holloway at UFC 318. Although he has not announced plans to return, the 37-year-old has admitted in several interviews that the idea of fighting again still crosses his mind.