Sean Strickland urges Bud Light to support Dustin Poirier

Sean Strickland reversed course on his criticism of Dustin Poirier after the two spoke about Poirier's arrest on a public drunkenness charge at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport last month.

Strickland, who initially blasted Poirier when news broke, told followers on Instagram that his own upbringing clouded his judgment. The middleweight contender said his father's drinking turned him into "a f*cking monster" and that the sight of alcohol abuse triggers anger rooted in childhood trauma, MMA Fighting reports.

Strickland's message to Bud Light over Poirier sponsorship

The former title challenger then directed his attention to Bud Light, which he claims may drop Poirier as a sponsor. Poirier has appeared in multiple campaigns for the brand and previously confirmed that one major sponsor cut ties after his arrest. "You spent $6 billion creating an addict," Strickland said in the video. "And at his lowest time, contemplating letting him go. That is the most un-American thing you could do."

Strickland added that Bud Light should stand by Poirier instead of distancing itself from the retired fighter. The promotion has not commented publicly on Poirier's status or the arrest. Poirier retired in March after losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 326 and has spoken about the difficulty of adjusting to life outside competition.

Bud Light has not addressed whether it plans to continue working with Poirier.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Sean Strickland tells Bud Light to stand by Dustin Poirier, reveals why he initially reacted so harshly to his arrest | MMA Fighting