For Mark Hominick, UFC 129 isn't just his shot to be champion, it's "Ontario’s title shot."
For London, Ont.'s Mark (The Machine) Hominick, Saturday, April 30 cannot come soon enough. The No. 1 featherweight contender is set to take on UFC 145-pound champion, Jose (Junior) Aldo as part of the co-main event for UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields.
With just over a month until he steps into the Octagon, The Machine is right on target for the biggest fight of his career.
"Five weeks out, you know I couldn’t be healthier (and) couldn’t be happier right now," Hominick said.
Hominick's joy is shared by many from the province, as it was a painful struggle for the sport of mixed martial arts to be regulated in Ontario. Now that MMA has been sanctioned, the local hero has seen an overwhelming level of support.
"One thing I really appreciate is basically everyone from Ontario is treating this like this is Ontario's title shot," added Hominick, and Ontarians will make up a large portion of the 55,000 seats sold at the UFC 129 venue, The Rogers Centre in Toronto.
While Ontario MMA fans have rallied behind the Thamesford, Ont., native, some of the province's best athletes have also offered their services in hopes to have Hominick realize his ultimate dream.
"I got some of the top wrestlers, top boxers and top kick boxers -- everyone is coming in to help me out."
The list also includes some of the top coaches that reside on Ontario soil, and even one, who has made his long-awaited return: Shawn Tompkins.
"The Coach" has relocated from his current home base of Las Vegas and returned back to his original stomping ground, London, where he has set up shop for the final stages of his star pupil's training camp.
Tompkins, who was also the best man at Hominick's wedding, is a master motivator. It is his words that Hominick will hear, and the ones that will oversee every aspect of The Machine's game plan.
At this level, there are many coaches that Mark must work with, and he cannot be happier with the team synergy thus far.
"It motivates me every day, and every day I'm getting stronger and more motivated for this fight."
No one needs to tell the featherweight phenom what's at stake at UFC 129. Nor does anyone have to explain to him the importance of seizing the day. The veteran of over 10 years fully understands that a victory over Aldo will be life-altering, so the time has come to put in the work and be ready for what he believes will be one of the greatest days of his life.
"I’m just trying to really enjoy the ride right now, because I know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
A voyage that has many MMA fans from Ontario hoping that Hominick will become the second UFC title-holder from Ontario, joining Carlos Newton in the history books. There is nothing more that they yearn for -- all that is missing for them is to label "The Machine" as "The People's Champ."
