Dominick Cruz carved out some time in his victory speech Sunday to take a shot at Kenny Florian and it almost broke MMA Twitter.
Florian was suspended by Fox Sports this weekend after being accused of plagiarism in an article posted to FoxSports.com. After beating T.J. Dillashaw, Cruz quipped: "Kenny Florian, stop copying and pasting, man."
Afterward, Cruz explained that he and Florian -- who work together as Fox Sports analysts -- have a good relationship and he was just having a bit of fun at his expense.
"I gave Kenny a little bit of a tough time, but I love that guy," Cruz said on the FS1 post-fight show. "He's got a good brain for the sport. I was just throwing a little jab at him, because he's my friend and it was funny. But nothing but respect for Kenny, because he is a good guy."
Cruz explained at the post-fight press conference that Florian picked Dillashaw to win in the main event of UFC Fight Night 81 in Boston. Perhaps the barb stemmed from that perceived slight.
"It was friendly fire," Cruz said. "I like Kenny. He didn't pick me in the fight. He gave me really no chance in this fight, so it was just a little poke. Nothing big. He's got great hair."
English boxing analyst Lee Wylie accused Florian, a former successful UFC fighter, of stealing parts of his video on boxing great Willie Pep in an analytical column for FoxSports.com previewing Dillashaw vs. Cruz. Certain portions of the article seemed to be taken nearly word for word from Wylie's work.
"It is vitally important that FOX Sports and FOXSports.com maintain credibility and trust with their readers, viewers and fans," FOX wrote in a statement. "FOX UFC on-air personality Kenny Florian is being suspended beginning immediately for a critical oversight in a story posted earlier this week on FOXSports.com. Florian has admitted and regrets his mistake and apologized for the error."
In a statement posted to Twitter on Friday, Florian apologized to Wylie and said the entire thing was a mistake stemming from poor organization of his notes.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) January 15, 2016