Sean Strickland has publicly apologized to Dustin Poirier for denouncing remarks Poirier made following his arrest. In his apology, Strickland acknowledged his own shortcomings, saying he guessed not everyone is a POS like himself.
Sean Strickland has issued a public apology to Dustin Poirier after criticizing comments Poirier made in the wake of Strickland's arrest, with the middleweight champion acknowledging his own faults in a moment of rare self-reflection.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and currently wears the middleweight title fighting out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one orthodox striker is one of the division's most active offensive fighters, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute with a 76-inch reach that helps him dictate range. His personality outside the Octagon has been a consistent source of controversy throughout his career.
Poirier, 37, competes at lightweight and carries a 30-10-0 record under the American Top Team banner. Known as "The Diamond," the southpaw from the United States stands five-foot-nine with a 72-inch reach and brings considerable volume to his fights, landing 5.24 significant strikes per minute while also threatening with 1.2 submission attempts per fifteen minutes. He is regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters in his division's history.
The tension between the two stemmed from remarks Poirier reportedly made following Strickland's arrest. Strickland initially denounced those comments publicly before reversing course and offering an apology. In doing so, he turned the moment inward, conceding that not everyone shares his own disposition — phrasing it with characteristic bluntness by suggesting he guessed not everyone is, in his own words, a piece of work like himself.
Why it matters
- The exchange highlights the ongoing friction between fighters when off-cage incidents spill into public discourse
- Strickland's willingness to walk back a criticism is notable given his reputation for doubling down on controversial positions
- Both fighters carry significant profiles — a reigning champion and a longtime lightweight contender — which amplifies any public dispute between them
