Overview
- At UFC Vegas 114, Cruz posted Instagram photos standing with Peterson and captioned them, “You can run but you can’t hide.”
- Cruz also teased a potential appearance by Peterson on his Love and War podcast, suggesting a further conversation to come.
- The rift began at UFC 249 in 2020 when Peterson stopped Cruz’s title fight against Henry Cejudo, prompting Cruz to argue the call was early.
- After the bout, Cruz alleged the referee smelled of alcohol and cigarettes and sought commission testing; Peterson denied any impairment, and there has been no joint statement beyond the photo op.
- Peterson’s officiating has faced other scrutiny from fans, including complaints about missed illegal shots during Chandler–Oliveira at UFC 309.