Jose Aldo finally has an opponent. Mark Hominick was offered the chance to take on the UFC's featherweight champ if he could win tonight at Fight for the Troops 2. Josh Grispi had the same opportunity at UFC 125, but blew it with a loss to Dustin Poirier. Hominick learned the lesson and delivered big time by smoking George Roop in less than two minutes. The Canadian scored a TKO finish at 1:28 of the first round to make his title shot official.
"If you're next in line for a title shot you got go out there and prove it," Hominick told UFC analyst Joe Rogan. "I believe my standup is far superior to everybody in the featherweight division, but you have to show it. You have to prove it in the cage."
Whether he's the best striker up for debate, but there is no argument that he is incredibly composed on the feet. The much taller Roop tried to stay on the move and catch Hominick off guard by throwing kicks, punches and knees from odd angles.
Hominick calmly stalked Roop and picked his spot. After Roop threw a lazy jab, Hominick floored him with a straight just 36 seconds into the fight. Instead of jumping into Roop's guard, Hominick backed up and waved for the fallen fighter to get up.
Roop never seemed right the rest of the fight. He also fell into a bad habit by constantly moving to his left. With 3:54 remaining, Hominick nailed Roop with a left hook and eight seconds later he stunned him with a straight right. Roops was out of it and got caught with another big left hook. Down he went and with Roop's hands at his sides, Hominick nailed him one more time. Referee Don Turnage jumped in to stop the fight. Roop protested, but when he rose to his feet he stumbled across the Octagon.
Hominick's been rumored to face Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto.
"Jose’s next. I think he’s the best pound for pound, but he’s never faced anyone like me," Hominick said. "I'm going to go out there and prove it."
The UFC is set to debut in Ontario in April. Hominicks' hometown is 100 miles to the south of Toronto.
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