UFC 249 Referee Keith Peterson Brutally Responds To Dominick Cruz's 'Alcohol And Cigarette' Claim

MMA referee Keith Peterson has brutally fired back at Dominick Cruz's alcohol and cigarette claim following his controversial defeat at UFC 249.

Cruz pulled no punches as he blasted Peterson's incompetence during his co-main event bout with Henry Cejudo.

And the UFC 249 referee has hit back at the fighter's accusation by aiming a savage dig on Twitter.

Peterson posted a picture of a badly hurt Cruz from Saturday's clash with the caption: "Me in the morning after a night of drinking and smoking."

Cruz was making his first Octagon appearance in more than three years at UFC 249.

But he failed to mark his comeback with a win as he suffered a stoppage defeat to Cejudo.

And the 35-year-old blamed his defeat on Peterson, who stopped the championship contest with just two seconds left in round two.

"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," he added. "If you put yourself in the position for the ref to mess something up in a stoppage, then you do so."

What are your thoughts on Peterson's call during Cejudo vs. Cruz? Let us know.