Hominick Considers Aldo Fight a Career Changer

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Mark Hominick didn’t beat Jose Aldo when they met in April at UFC 129, but he did go the distance with the UFC featherweight champion in what was a breakthrough performance.

“It was definitely a career changer for me,” Hominick told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “It was almost like a 15-year overnight success. All of a sudden, after that fight everyone kind of took notice of who I was and what I was capable of doing. Now I have to take that momentum that I got from that fight and carry it forward to another winning streak and another title shot and eventually to win that belt.”

In his first bout back since dropping the unanimous decision to Aldo, Hominick fights Chan Sung Jung on Saturday at UFC 140. “The Korean Zombie” is coming off a submission win over Leonard Garcia in March. He had lost back-to-back fights prior to that victory.

“I think he went back to the drawing board,” Hominick said, “and realized, ‘OK, I have to fight a little smarter. Yeah, I can fight aggressive but not reckless.’ He came out in the second fight with Leonard Garcia, and he ended up submitting him with a twister. … That’s the fighter I’m expecting. I’m sure he’s going to come with his aggressive style, but again, I think he’s going to be fighting with a little bit more of a game plan.”

Although Jung’s twister submission of Garcia -- not a finish you see every day -- impressed Hominick, the Korean’s ground skills didn’t surprise him.

“I always believed he had a really strong ground game,” Hominick said. “… I think he got to show to the fans what he’s capable of doing and the skills that he has. He’s not just this crazy, aggressive, come-forward wild-punching fighter. He’s got a very strong submission game. It’s a bit awkward, like with different attacks. It’s not too often you see a twister come out in MMA. He’s definitely got a lot of skills on the ground. That’s what I believe he’s going to be trying to pull out in the fight with me.”

Another option is for Jung to try to overwhelm Hominick on the feet. That doesn’t seem likely, though Jung has employed a relentless, aggressive striking style before. In contrast, Hominick uses a more technical approach.

“I think my striking’s very efficient,” Hominick said. “You don’t see me miss too many shots, and the shots I land do damage. … I’d say I’m very sharp with my standup, well conditioned and very efficient in the fight. If you give me that shot, I’m going to put you away.”

A decisive finish could move Hominick one step closer to another crack at the featherweight title. He definitely wants a second shot, but it’s not something he plans to ask for. He plans to earn it.

“You’ve got to perform in a way that you make statement fights,” Hominick said. “That’s what I’m looking to do. I don’t want to be the guy beating my chest, saying, ‘Give me a title shot.’ I want the fans and the UFC to be, ‘OK, yeah, that’s the guy we want to be fighting for the title.’”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 59:55).