When I called Mark
Hominick to double check that our interview was still a go, he had to
fight to make his voice heard over his young daughter who was rather
upset at the time. Parenthood isn't the fight Hominick has been
dealing with most of his life, but it's one he knows will be more
rewarding. The fight that he's used to? Ultimate Fighting
Championships (UFC). For until recently when he retired, Mark
Hominick was one of the elite athletes that thousands watch weekly.
An industry shown worldwide, and known as the largest mixed martial
arts promotion company in the world. An industry where the objective
is to, simply, win in a real fight using any form of martial arts
you're trained with, from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Muay Thai. Only the
best in the sport can fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship,
and Hominick is one of the best for his weight-class. That's why it
was exciting to talk to him. Not to mention we went to the same high
school (him a while before me) and shared some teachers, that was for
sure another reason I wanted to talk about his career and life now.
Interesting Canadians always get to me, but interesting Ingersoll
District Collegiate Institute students? Even better.
When Hominick went to
enter the Octogon for his first professional fight, he thought he
would be nervous, and who wouldn't be? Around 20 years old at the
time, only a little older than I am now, he entered to fight Richard
Nancoo. Nancoo came into the fight with a record of five career wins,
one draw, no losses and professional bouts for four years- versus the
small country boy Mark Hominick. A realization befell him, he wasn't
nervous anymore while walking up. He was prepared, excited, and
wanted to get fighting. Obviously, prepared was right. Two minutes
and thirty-four seconds into the third round, referee Yves Lavigne
called it. Hominick wins with a technical knockout using punches and
elbows. A great start, to an eleven year career. A career of
excelling in the Featherweight division (136-145 pounds), working
with his mentor the late Shawn Tompkins, a round of pushups in the
Octogon after every win and fighting for the world title.
I had to ask right
away, what did his family think of his UFC career. In a way, it was
the answer I was expecting. They weren't really fans of it, and I
guess that's agreeable and relatable to every parent, Hominick now
included. His mother never attended a fight, Hominick thinks it's
probably since it would be rather nerve racking for her. His wife
preferred to watch live, saying it was better than on television. His
late father on the other hand did what I feel parents are best for,
worked as a support system. The elder Hominick would go watch his son
fight, then leave after (not watching any other fights). Showing that
he was always there for his son, not the sport. Then I asked about
what his young daughter thought in regards to it. Being to young to
verbalize, she would point to his wounds and say “ow”. This was
something that he didn't want his daughter to witness, but the bumps
and bruises were reminders of his violent work. This was part of the
reason he retired, so his children didn't have to see this all the
time. As he says, when his children are as young as they are, it's
better that they don't get the full vision of it or really watch his
bouts. It's hard for them to realize that this is martial arts as a
sport compared to fighting out of anger. In my opinion, it's hard to
remember watching the fights and knowing they have parents who may be
watching, spouses sitting in the crowds or young children at home,
all watching their loved one fight. This is only another job though,
and every job leaves its mark. Hominick strongly believes that his
parents would of much preferred that he stuck with his four business
degree from the University of Windsor, maybe that's in the cards for
the future though.
Business degrees are
for another day, back to the fights. Hominick has made appearances in
stadiums from Quebec to Hawaii, Alberta to Texas, Illinois to Nevada
and others in between. When asked, his personal favourite was
Montreal, Quebec. This is where he spent his first few years, feeling
like he became on of Montreal and Quebec's own. Needless to say,
fighting in Las Vegas on the Vegas strip (fight capital of the world)
sticks in his mind and always will. His most memorable was a fight
that made UFC history. UFC 129, hosted at the Rogers Centre in
Toronto. Only eight months after the legalization of mixed martial
arts in Ontario, they planned on hosting a bout. All 55000 seats sold
out, making a gate revenue exceeding $11 million dollars, this was
the night Hominick would be facing the Brazilian Jose Aldo for the
UFC Featherweight championship. This event broke records, including
shattering gate records not only for Mixed Martial Arts in Canada,
but in North America. With a final scoring of 48-45 for Aldo,
Hominick just barely missed the title.
A year and a half (and
three fights later), Hominick released the news that he would be
retiring from fighting. He had children, and a wife. They wanted to
start settling down as a family. As he says, “the hardest part of
the UFC is the constant grind”. Training six days a week, for hours
at a time. From now there's the idea that he'll do some sports
analyst jobs for FOX news and Sportsnet, maybe living up to that
business degree, but not nearly as much fighting.
Going back to his
small home, he's proud to be back. He get's to be with his same
friends from elementary and high school. He get's to raise his
children in an atmosphere that's meant a lot to him and that he knows
is a good one. He reminds me that no matter what you do, you should
follow your passion. If you really believe that this is something you
want to do, UFC or otherwise, nothing should be able to get in your
way saying otherwise. From a small town in Ontario, with a population
of 1748 came a man who fought in front of 55000. Anything can happen
if you try.
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