MMA referee, previously accused of drinking on the job, under fire again for low blow call - "Should be overturned to a TKO" 

A controversial MMA referee is back in the hot seat after what many thought was a horrible call at the recently concluded UFC Vegas 99 event. Referee Keith Peterson had once been accused by bantamweight legend Dominick Cruz of being drunk on the job.

After his TKO loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC 249, 'The Dominator' raged about the stoppage being premature while accusing the referee of smelling like alcohol and cigarettes during the bout. For context, there were only two seconds left in the second round when the official stopped the fight, leading many to question the call.

The referee once again faced controversy at UFC Vegas 99. In the women's strawweight bout between Melissa Martinez and Alice Ardelean, a controversial call by Peterson ruled a devastating kick by 'Super Mely' a low blow, allowing Ardelean time to recover from a potential fight-ending strike.

Check out the controversial call by the MMA referee below:

However, clips from the bout show the kick landing clearly above the belt line. While Martinez eventually won the fight via unanimous decision, fight fans are furious with the referee for denying her a decisive TKO win.

Following the event, disgruntled fans took to X to note their thoughts and opinions.

@northern_mma wrote:

"Perfectly executed kick, poor ruling by ref. Should be overturned to a TKO without a doubt."

@Salinas0812j opined:

"The dude has always been a sh***y ref."

@REDSHADOWHAWK69 chimed in:

"She just got robbed a TKO."

Screenshots courtesy: @WMMARankings on X

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When MMA coach Eric Nicksick defended Keith Peterson

Eric Nicksick doesn't agree with Dominick Cruz's criticism of referee Keith Peterson. The Xtreme Couture head honcho maintains Peterson is as talented a referee as they come.

Nicksick believes it was unfair of Cruz to put the referee's character in question just because he didn't agree with the stoppage. The MMA coach asserted that Peterson was an astute professional and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his credibility. In a 2020 appearance on The Schmozone, the 45-year-old said:

"The dude smokes cigarettes, that's what happens. He was probably under the bleachers smoking cigarettes. But to say he smelled like alcohol... and throw his reputation under the bus for a stoppage that you didn't agree with, I didn't think that was cool... The dude wasn't out drinking before your fight bro."

Check out Eric Nicksick's comments below (0:10):