Fighting and fatherhood

By Mike Johnston, sportsnet.ca

To mixed martial arts fans, UFC featherweight Mark Hominick is known as "The Machine." But to his nine-month-old daughter Raeya, he is a food and hug provider as well as diaper changer.

His life composed of fighting and fatherhood, Hominick, who was a celebrity guest at the 61st annual Conn Smythe Sports Celebrity Dinner & Auction in Toronto on Wednesday, admits it can be a tough juggling act.

"At times the lifestyle of an MMA fighter is a pretty hectic one," Hominick told sportsnet.ca. "It’s pretty busy, it’s a demanding schedule, so it’s tough but at the end of the day the most important thing is the family and it’s been a journey for sure."

The 29-year-old lives and trains in London, Ont., out of the Adrenaline Training Centre that he runs with teammates Sam Stout and Chris Horodecki. Hominick said the close proximity to the gym is a benefit to his training.

"I’m lucky that I live close to my gym, it’s only about a 15-minute drive, so after my training sessions, I’m home in between, home after, so it’s not like before when I was going to Vegas for 6-8 weeks at a time. I don’t travel as much for my training camp so it’s nice to be close."

The former top 145-pound contender also said it helps having an army of babysitters he can rely on.

"It’s nice that I live in a small town as well. My mom lives around the corner, my sister lives around the other corner so it’s nice to be in a small community."

2011 was a year of ultimate highs and ultimate lows for Hominick. In addition to becoming a new father, he had to deal with the death of his longtime trainer and friend Shawn Tompkins.

All three core members of Team Tompkins -- Hominick, Stout and Horodecki -- failed to win in their first bouts without Tompkins.

Hominick was knocked out by Chan Sung Jung in seven seconds at UFC 140; Horodecki came away with a majority draw against Mike Corey at Bellator 57; Stout recently lost a close decision to Thiago Tavares in Brazil at UFC 142.

Hominick believes that those fights were key in the grieving process.

"I think it was nice that, now going forward, we all went through the first fight without Shawn and now we move forward," Hominick said. "We wanted to come out and show a strong front. Obviously we didn’t get the wins we wanted, but again we’re showing that we’re supporting each other and we’re carrying on Shawn’s name and carrying on the tradition of Team Tompkins."

While Hominick’s loss to "The Korean Zombie" was clear-cut, the Thamesford, Ont., native believes Horodecki and Stout should have come away with their hands raised.

"Anytime you go to the judges’ scorecards you run the risk that it’s not going to go your way in a close fight," Hominick said. "I believe (Stout) won. I think he did enough to win, but fighting a Brazilian in Brazil, there’s a lot of elements that play, like the crowd plays a big factor and home field advantage for sure."

He believes if the fight took place in North America Stout would have earned the decision.

"In mixed martial arts I think there is a real issue with the judging, whether they have to bring in a half-point system or whatever it is, I think there has to be some changes that need to be made because there are too many close fights that are going the wrong way."

Hominick’s next fight is against Eddie Yagin and takes place at UFC 145 in Atlanta, but it was originally scheduled to be held in Montreal in March, something Hominick was looking forward to.

"I signed the contract to fight in Montreal at first and it was exciting (the thought of) fighting in Montreal," Hominick said. "I started my career there; I had my first 12 fights there, so I was looking forward to that but I mean you fight where the UFC tells you and, being in Atlanta, I’m looking forward to that as well."

Despite the change in city and venue, the former TKO featherweight champion said it’s the type of variable that he has dealt with in the past.

"It’s the same kind of experience when I fought in front of 55,000 people (at UFC 129 in Toronto last April), it was kind of a new element, but when the cage door closes it’s just you and your opponent in there," Hominick said.

Yagin is a short, stocky brawler and Hominick believes that matchup should be to his advantage.

"I think the biggest thing is using my distance, my reach," Hominick said. "He’s got a very big right hand and he’s an experienced fighter so I think the main thing is staying composed and fighting the way I generally do.

"I learned that from my experience last time, is fighting out of character you pay the price, so if I stick to my guns I can win this fight."

Hominick has become accustomed to being invited to celebrity functions as one of the UFC’s top Canadian fighters, and he said Wednesday’s occasion was an honour and something he enjoys.

In addition to being involved in the community and with charities, Hominick said he enjoys being an Ultimate Blogger for sportsnet.ca, so fans can expect more from "The Machine" in the future.