Dominick Cruz may have finally turned a corner in his long-running feud with referee Keith Peterson.
The tension between the two dates back years, but Cruz surprised fans after sharing photos alongside Peterson from UFC Vegas 114 in Las Vegas. The images showed both men standing face-to-face and even side-by-side, signaling what appears to be a more relaxed dynamic.
“You can run but you can’t hide,” Cruz wrote in the caption.
Cruz’s issues with Peterson stem from his bantamweight title fight against Henry Cejudo at UFC 249 in May 2020.
In that fight, Cejudo hurt Cruz late in the second round, prompting Peterson to step in and stop the bout with just two seconds remaining. Cruz immediately protested the stoppage and didn’t hold back in his criticism afterward.
“The guy smelled like alcohol and cigarettes, so who knows what he was doing?” Cruz said at the time.
Over the years, Cruz continued to question Peterson’s judgment, even going as far as calling him a “complete f*ck-up” during an appearance on Demetrious Johnson’s podcast.
Despite years of public criticism, Cruz’s recent social media post suggests that the relationship may be thawing.
In addition to the photo, Cruz hinted at a possible sit-down with Peterson on his podcast.
“Will Keith Peterson come on the podcast?” Cruz added.
Cruz launched his “Love and War” podcast earlier this year, where he has already hosted former rivals like Urijah Faber and TJ Dillashaw.
Cruz officially stepped away from active competition following a shoulder injury that forced him out of a planned bout against Rob Font. Since then, he has focused fully on his role as a UFC analyst and commentator.
Even in retirement, Cruz continues to show the same fiery personality that defined his fighting career. However, his recent interaction with Peterson suggests he may be ready to move forward at least enough to share a moment and possibly a conversation.
For now, Cruz has left the door open, and fans will be watching closely to see if this long-standing rivalry finally gets a proper resolution.
