It’s done: Most of the hardcore training, public appearances, media
interviews and strategizing that comes with a title shot at the biggest
UFC event in history.
Now, Mark (The Machine) Hominick counts the days till Saturday.
“All the work’s done,” he said. “It’s almost like a waiting game now.”
Hominick,
from Thameford, had his last sparring session Saturday, and will take
it relatively easy this week as he awaits his UFC featherweight title
shot against Jose Aldo.
It’s about recovering, relaxing and refocusing.
“Now
it’s mainly just maintenance, getting the weight on point, you know,
just keeping your timing,” said Hominick, who has won five straight
bouts. “You don’t completely stop working out, but the workouts are
short, intense — but no contact.”
Although he’s tried to follow
the same pre-fight routine as in the past, Hominick says preparing for
UFC 129 at Rogers Centre in Toronto has been anything but routine.
“This
year was a little different, being co-main event in the biggest UFC of
all time, there’s been a lot of demands,” he said. “I think the main
thing is just staying relaxed and focused on Saturday night.”
Adding
to the demands has been Hominick’s situation at home: Wife Ashley is
expecting their first child shortly after UFC 129. “She’s doing very
well,” he said. “She’s still planning to come to Toronto, but each day
might be different.”
First of many strikes
Mark
Hominick’s highest-profile public appearance came Friday when he threw
out the first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Oh, it was pretty cool,” said the Thamesford resident. “It’s such an iconic piece for Ontario, the Rogers Centre.”
Hominick
also sat at field level with a fellow special guest, Toronto UFC
welterweight Sean Pierson, and was interviewed on live TV.
And he got to meet several ball players, including Jays rookie J.P. Arencibia.
“He was a real nice guy — a big MMA fan,” said Hominick.
