Sean Strickland Changes Tune on Dustin Poirier, Makes Emotional Plea to Bud Light

Much like UFC’s controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit, Sean Strickland isn't known for walking back his opinions. Whether it's inside the Octagon or on social media, the former UFC middleweight champion rarely hesitates to speak his mind. That's exactly why his latest comments about Dustin Poirier stood out.

Just days after criticizing the retired lightweight following his arrest on a public drunkenness charge at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Strickland had a change of heart.

After speaking privately with "The Diamond," the outspoken middleweight admitted his initial reaction was shaped by his own past and urged Poirier’s sponsor, Bud Light, not to turn its back on one of the UFC's most respected veterans.

Sean Strickland Explains why he Misjudged Dustin Poirier

Strickland revealed that his conversation with Poirier forced him to look inward and question why the incident had angered him so much in the first place. Growing up in an abusive household, the 35-year-old said alcohol has always represented something far darker than a casual drink after work.

"I've been thinking about this bottle and I've been thinking about Dustin a lot. I reached out to him and he put some things into perspective to me. Because my initial thought was kind of angry, condescending, and I really had to work through that."

He continued by explaining why seeing alcohol often triggers painful memories, saying, "This bottle to me represents hell. The version I got was my dad getting home at four o'clock, grabbing a cold beer and becoming a f***ing monster. Potentially ruined my life. Ruined his life. Ruined his dad's life and his dad's life before him."

Sean Strickland Admits Poor Judgment of Dustin Poirier

The champion then acknowledged that those experiences clouded his judgment and admitted that's something he still has to work on. "Whenever I see people use it, especially in that manner, it makes me angry. That's my own flaw as a man. I've got to work past that."

While alcohol carries painful memories for him, Strickland also recognized that millions of people have a completely different relationship with it.

"There's so many Americans that drink this and they love life. They go play catch with their son and I love that... For the Americans that don't abuse it, and they are just living life, I wish you the best."

Strickland Urges Bud Light to Stand by Poirier

The former middleweight champion also addressed reports that Bud Light could distance itself from Poirier following the arrest. Earlier, Strickland berated the Louisiana-native following the latter's recent admission, only to take a U-turn and then apologize to the veteran for his outspoken comments. 

Poirier recently revealed that one of his sponsors had already ended its partnership with him and admitted he expected others might follow. While Bud Light has not publicly commented on the situation, Strickland said abandoning the UFC legend now would send the wrong message.

"What made me so mad talking to Dustin and hearing things through the grapevine, I heard that Bud Light might let Dustin go."

Strickland argued that companies shouldn't disappear when the athletes they've promoted hit difficult moments. He noted, "You spent billions creating an addict. Creating someone that wants to grab this every time he's having a bad day and bring out the worst in him. And at his lowest time, contemplating letting him go."

He finished with a direct appeal to the beer giant - "Bud Light, if you want to represent America, you stand by him and you help him. That's f***ing American."