"I Feel So Bad He Retired": Song Yadong Gives Honest Reaction After Losing the Chance to Face Cruz

Song Yadong has the biggest fight of his career coming up. He’s set to headline UFC Seattle against former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in a fight that could launch him into title contention. But while he’s excited for the opportunity, there’s a lingering disappointment—one of his dream fights will never happen.

Dominick Cruz, the former bantamweight champion and one of the most influential fighters in the division’s history, has officially retired. A planned fight against Rob Font fell through due to injury, and rather than attempt another comeback, Cruz has decided to call it a career. For Song, who grew up watching him, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
“I always wanted to fight Dominick Cruz,” Song told MMA Fighting. “When I was younger, I watched his fights all the time. I loved watching him so much. I like his style, but I feel so bad he retired.”
Cruz’s career was defined by resilience. He became a two-time UFC champion despite being plagued by injuries that sidelined him for years at a time. His return in 2016, where he reclaimed the belt from T.J. Dillashaw, after nearly five years away, remains one of the most remarkable comebacks in MMA history. He defended the title against Urijah Faber but lost it later that year to Cody Garbrandt in a fight that signaled a shift in the division.

After another long layoff, Cruz returned again in 2020 to fight for the belt, this time against Cejudo. He lost via second-round TKO, but even then, he wasn’t done. He picked up two more wins before suffering a brutal head-kick knockout loss to Marlon Vera in 2022. Now, at 39 years old, Cruz has finally stepped away for good.
Song won’t get the fight he wanted, but he has an even bigger challenge ahead. Cejudo is a former champion in two weight classes and a win over him would put Song right in the title conversation.
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“Yeah, this is a real main event for me with (a) crowd,” Song said. “I had (other main events), but it was all at the APEX without a crowd.”
Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight in a packed arena, headlining against one of the biggest names in the sport. He may not get his shot at Cruz, but on Saturday night, he’ll have the chance to prove he belongs among the best in the world.