THE STORY
During the UFC 249 event on May 9, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida, Dominick Cruz faced Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title. In the second round, Cruz was knocked down by a knee and several punches, leading referee Keith Peterson to stop the fight with two seconds remaining in the round. Cruz contested the stoppage, claiming Peterson smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. (mmafighting.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Dominick Cruz
WHY IT MATTERS
Cruz's public criticism of referee Keith Peterson highlighted concerns about referee conduct and the importance of fighter safety in MMA.