Tag: Dominick Cruz

Dominick Cruz Reflects On Victory Against Kenney At UFC 259

At UFC 259, former 2X bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz turned back the clock with an emphatic victory over the young Casey Kenney. Inside the UFC APEX facility, the bantamweight clash was the featured preliminary bout. Anticipation was palpable as m…

At UFC 259, former 2X bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz turned back the clock with an emphatic victory over the young Casey Kenney. Inside the UFC APEX facility, the bantamweight clash was the featured preliminary bout. Anticipation was palpable as many wondered if the 35-year old Cruz could pick up his first win since 2016, and […]

Dominick Cruz Returns With Decision Win Over Casey Kenney – UFC 259 Highlights

Dominick CruzFormer two-time UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz is back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time since June of 2016 — via a competitive split decision win over Casey Kenney to round out our preliminary portion of UFC 259. Utilizing his patented footwork to evade some winging shots from Kenney early in the round, […]

Dominick Cruz

Former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz is back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time since June of 2016 — via a competitive split decision win over Casey Kenney to round out our preliminary portion of UFC 259.

Utilizing his patented footwork to evade some winging shots from Kenney early in the round, former champion, Cruz got into his flow early, finding his mark with well timed and placed leg kicks and dipping-hooks, as well as a notable right high-kick.

Starting to find his mark with a low, inside leg kick, Kenney had a kick-heavy approach — looking to hamper the mesmerizing movement of Cruz. Another round in the books for Cruz, however, he did find himself on the receiving end of a notable check left hook before the buzzer, as Kenney gained a front head-lock.

Some decent grappling scrambles to begin the third, with Kenney chasing a guillotine, while Cruz maintained side-control before landing a good knee to the body in the clinch before the break. With Casey extremely fatigued, Cruz managed to nab a knee tap takedown, in a difference making moment in the third and final round.

Below, check out the highlights of former titleholder, Cruz’s decision win over Kenney.

Should Fighters Get To Pick & Choose Their Referees?

When two fighters go up against each other inside of a cage, there are weeks, if not years of preparation involved. Mixed martial artists dedicate their lives to training, eating well, and honing their skills. Then, they are locked in a cage with anoth…

When two fighters go up against each other inside of a cage, there are weeks, if not years of preparation involved. Mixed martial artists dedicate their lives to training, eating well, and honing their skills. Then, they are locked in a cage with another fighter trying their best to win. The thing is that it […]

Dominick Cruz Requests Keith Peterson To Not Ref His UFC 259 Fight

Dominick Cruz is still fed up with Keith Peterson. At UFC 249, Cruz made his return to the Octagon against Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title. It was an intriguing matchup and for Cruz, if he won, it would further his legacy. Unfortunately, in the…

Dominick Cruz is still fed up with Keith Peterson. At UFC 249, Cruz made his return to the Octagon against Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title. It was an intriguing matchup and for Cruz, if he won, it would further his legacy. Unfortunately, in the second round, Cejudo landed a knee and after some follow-up […]

Dominick Cruz Asks That Keith Peterson Not Referee His Fight At UFC 259

Dominick CruzFormer UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has requested that Keith Peterson not referee his fight against Casey Kenney at UFC 259 this weekend. Peterson was infamously the man in the middle when Cruz squared off against Henry Cejudo last year. ‘The Dominator’ went on to suffer a second-round TKO loss – a stoppage he vehemently […]

Dominick Cruz

Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has requested that Keith Peterson not referee his fight against Casey Kenney at UFC 259 this weekend.

Peterson was infamously the man in the middle when Cruz squared off against Henry Cejudo last year. ‘The Dominator’ went on to suffer a second-round TKO loss – a stoppage he vehemently contested after the fight. Cruz even accused the veteran referee of smelling of alcohol.

“That was an early stoppage, 100 percent – I’m positive of it. 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.”

Almost one year on and Cruz is still holding a grudge against Peterson. The 35-year-old revealed at the UFC 259 pre-fight press conference that he has asked the commission to not appoint Peterson as the referee for his upcoming fight.

“I made the request, and you hope the commission can honor your request. But when it all comes down to it, they run things, right?” Cruz said. “They have control over everything.”

“(UFC vice president of regulatory affairs) Marc Ratner alluded he was able to make that possible for me,” Cruz added. “It’s not that I hate this guy or anything. This is a business thing, and I did not feel like he was doing his just. There are plenty of refs. I’ve never had an issue with any other ref in the history of my career – before the fight started. I had an issue with him before the fight started in the locker room. So that’s what made me stand by the fact that I’d prefer another ref.” (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)

Do you think Dominick Cruz is right to request Keith Peterson does not referee his fight at UFC 259?