UFC 249: Dominick Cruz Continues to Protest Loss, Claims Ref “Smelled Like Alcohol And Cigarettes”

Right after Dominick Cruz’s bout with Henry Cejudo was stopped at UFC 249, it was clear the former champ wasn’t happy about the ref’s call. While talking to ESPN after his defeat, Cruz ramped up his protest, and accused veteran ref Keith Peterson of smelling like alcohol and cigarettes.

Cruz says he’s “100%” certain fight was stopped too early

Cejudo tested Cruz right of the gate with punishing leg kicks, but in round two, Cruz started to have a bit more success. Late in the round, however, Cejudo caught Cruz with a perfectly timed knee that sent the former bantamweight champ to the deck.

As Cruz tried to cover up and get back to his feet, Cejudo fired in multiple shots, the fight was stopped.

While talking to Joe Rogan in his in-cage, post-fight interview, Cruz protested the stoppage. But, while speaking to ESPN afterward, the 34-year-old made the following accusation about the veteran ref (quote via MMA Junkie).

“That was an early stoppage, 100 percent – I’m positive of it,” Cruz said on the UFC 249 post-fight show on ESPN. “I wish there was a way to keep these refs a little more responsible sometimes.

The guy smelled like alcohol and cigarettes, so who knows what he was doing. Definitely (he did). I wish they drug tested them.

I know Herb Dean is good. He’s one of the best refs. I immediately when I saw that ref I was like, ‘Man, is there a way to veto a ref and get a new one?’ I wonder that.”

“I’m not a guy to make excuses,” Cruz said. “If you put yourself in the position for the ref to mess something up in a stoppage, then you do so.”

So, it will be interesting to see if anything else comes out of this, and whether Peterson responds.

Cruz’s accusation aside, it is worth noting that after he lost to Cody Garbrandt in 2016, he was extremely humble in defeat.

What’s next for Cruz?

Now it remains to be seen what’s next for Cruz. Due to injuries, the renowned fighter was competing for the first time since 2016, when he lost to Garbrandt.

Cruz has another gig as a fight analyst and commentator, so he doesn’t need to keep fighting. But, due to the time he’s lost to injuries, it’s hard to imagine him hanging up the gloves right now, if he’s healthy.

Further, after UFC 249 Cejudo announced that he’s happy with his career, and that he’s retiring at the age of 33. So, the path to another title shot for Cruz is probably shorter as a result.