Mark Hominick is ready for UFC Fight for the Troops 2, a win earns him a title shot in Toronto

By Mike Johnston

@MikeyJ_MMA

It is every fighters dream to fight on the biggest stage in front of hometown fans, family and friends, but the bigger dream is to become champion. Thamesford, Ontario’s Mark Hominick has the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone if he can defeat Georges Roop at this weekend’s UFC Fight for the Troops 2.

During the Fight for the Troops 2 conference call, UFC President Dana White announced that if Hominick can get by Roop, he would be declared the new number one contender at featherweight. “If Mark Hominick wins this fight, he gets a shot at the title with [Jose] Aldo and that will be in Toronto [at UFC 129],” said White.

It is the biggest opportunity of Hominick’s career, but he says he is not looking past his opponent in the slightest. “It’s motivation and it’s just an opportunity for me to prove why I’m the number one contender,” said Hominick in an interview with ufc.com. “If I don’t get through George Roop, I don’t deserve the title shot. That’s the way I’m looking at it.”

Roop, who has trained with Hominick and his Hominick’s longtime trainer Shawn Tompkins in the past, plans on spoiling the party. “I understand that Mark Hominick is the number one contender. It’s my job to go out there and make [the Aldo] fight not happen, you know try to change people’s minds,” said Roop, who is coming off one of the best knockouts of 2010. “I need to go out there and finish this fight. I’m here to finish him and that’s my plan.”

Hominick believes that the experience training with Roop is neither an advantage nor disadvantage. “We know we both have the same advantages; we’re familiar with some of the tendencies we both have, but we’re both putting it aside,” said Hominick. “You’re a different animal in the cage for sure.”

The bout can be seen live in Canada on Spike TV and Rogers Sportsnet on Saturday starting at 9 p.m. ET. The event is headline by a lightweight fight between Evan Dunham and Melvin Guillard. Canadian Tim Hague fights in the co-main event against TUF 10 cast member and former NFL player Matt Mitrione in a heavyweight scrap.

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