Mark Hominick.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO -- Mark (The Machine) Hominick walked into a Toronto youth shelter looking more like a golfer than a bruising cage fighter.

"He's small, yo," said Steve, 24, with at least 50 pounds on the World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight contender.

"I can take him," chirped Yaas, 17, who was at least 50 pounds lighter.

Hominick, wearing a neatly pressed black golf shirt, jeans, and clean white sneakers, didn't notice, or at least didn't seem to mind.

The five-foot-eight, 145-pound Canadian fighter was visiting the Touchstone Youth Centre from his home near London, Ont., where he trains and runs a gym.

About 30 young people crowded into a rec-room to hear Hominick, 28, share the story of his journey through the intense, demanding life of a professional MMA fighter.

He spoke of sacrifice and perseverance. Of setting goals, and working to achieve them.

"Passion breeds success," he said.

"Set little goals, and knock-em-off, day by day."

He spoke of his father, Paul, who died of cancer four years ago, and of his mother-in-law who died the same way.

"Any time you lose, it's crushing," he said to the room of admiring eyes and agreeing head nods. "But it's got to make you hungry."

Of his dream of becoming a world champion, he said he'll never give it up.

"Put Godzilla in the ring with me and I'll fight him. I'll sacrifice anything to achieve it," he said. "If you're really passionate about something, nothing will derail you."

For the people at Touchstone Youth Centre, it was a moving message. The shelter provides support to some of the area's most vulnerable youth, between the ages of 16-24.

Susette Clunis, executive director of the shelter, said many of the young people at the shelter have dealt with physical or sexual abuse. Some come from broken families, or as new immigrants living in poverty and struggling to learn English. They've all wound up on the street.

"We want to provide a safe place, where young people can come and get the help that they need to be able to live a stable and structured life. To be independent," said Clunis.

And so Hominick told them to keep fighting the Godzillas of their lives. He told them that no obstacle is too big to overcome, and that passion can conquer everything.

"If you get knocked down, there's just got to be that hunger that you won't be held down," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's life, or in a fight, or whatever it is."

Hominick stayed after the chat for a barbecue, even though he was unable to eat the hamburgers and hot dogs. He's preparing for a fight against Leonard (Bad Boy) Garcia on Sept. 30, and was leaving for Las Vegas the next day to train for three weeks.

But he still had time to sign UFC T-shirts (UFC owns the WEC), smile for photos and give some tips to fans.

Hominick gave Yass, the 17-year-old who had jokingly chirped him earlier, a personal lesson in submission holds -- which the young lightweight later demonstrated on a reporter with remarkable speed and surprising efficiency.

Steve, a huge MMA fan, was given a boxing lesson in the shelter's gym.

"Jab. Cross. Hook. Reset. Body!" Hominick coached as the young man went through the combination moves, striking a punching bag.

"Jab, cross, hook. Reset." And again. "Jab, cross, hook ..."