Strickland dismisses Poirier's depression admission after arrest: 'You're not allowed to be depressed'

Sean Strickland has taken aim at Dustin Poirier on social media after the retired UFC lightweight opened up about battling depression in the wake of his recent arrest for alleged public drunkenness, with the middleweight champion insisting Poirier has no right to the diagnosis.

Poirier was reportedly prevented from boarding a flight before being arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness. In addressing the incident publicly, “The Diamond” spoke candidly about his ongoing struggles with mental health — a subject he has returned to repeatedly since announcing his retirement from fighting.

Strickland, never shy about sharing his views, rejected that framing outright. Writing on X on July 6, the former middleweight champion posted: “Dustin ‘Im depressed’ bro what? Youre rich and loved by thousands of people.. Youre not allowed to be depressed.” He followed that by adding context to the airport incident: “What you did is got kicked off a flight and tried to fight a cop....relax it happens to the best of us.”

A third post pushed the argument further, drawing a contrast between Poirier’s circumstances and those facing life-threatening illness. “There are kids dying of cancer going through chemo. They would give anything for one more day,” Strickland wrote. “But you a grown ass rich man looks in the mirror and says I’m depressed. Tell me why youre sad rich man?”

Strickland also used the exchange to outline his own philosophy on post-career fulfilment, suggesting that needing to search for happiness after retiring from sport is itself a form of failure. “Once I get done fighting and I ask myself ‘what will make me happy’ I’ve already lost,” he wrote, adding that genuine happiness, in his view, derives from service to family and community rather than personal comfort.

Poirier has not publicly responded to Strickland’s comments. The circumstances surrounding his arrest have not been fully detailed, and no charges beyond the initial allegation of public drunkenness have been reported.