UFC 154: November 17, 2012 Montreal, Quebec, Canada UFC Featherweight Contender Mark Hominick (-260) Profile: Canadian journeyman Mark Hominick (20-11) has overcome adversity throughout his career. Suffering three tough losses in a row to start his fighting career, then joining the UFC for only a brief period at UFC 58 with a win over Yves Edwards, Hominick eventually found a home in the WEC, where he would go on to lose his first two fights in the promotion. Eventually, something in the veteran clicked, and he was able to string together five wins in a row to close out the existence of the WEC and its reborn featherweight division in the UFC. This earned Hominick a featherweight title shot against Jose Aldo at UFC 129 but ended up sending him on a three-fight skid. Hominick is an exciting fighter, but that sometimes gets him in trouble. He can finish a fighter with strikes or with his submission game. However, he is susceptible to getting finished as well. Hominick’s upcoming fight versus Pablo Garza may be for his UFC job. UFC Featherweight Contender Pablo Garza (+200) Profile: Pablo Garza (11-3) started his career in 2007 with great success. He would spend the first three years on the independent circuits, amassing an impressive 9-0 record. In 2010, the featherweight made his big show debut at WEC 51, losing to Chinese star Zhang Tiequan in the first round via guillotine choke. When the WEC folded, the 29-year-old Garza would join the cast of The Ultimate Fighter 12. At the TUF finale, Garza took part in one of the first featherweight fights in UFC history, and he made it memorable with an incredible flying knee knockout of Fredson Paixao in the first minute of their bout. Astonishingly, Garza followed up his Knockout of the Night with a Submission of the Night via flying triangle choke on Yves Jabouin. Since his meteoric start in the UFC, Garza has fallen on hard times, losing his last two fights. However, don’t let these setbacks make you think Garza will be timid heading into his upcoming fight with Hominick though. Garza will lay it all on the line and is an exciting and explosive fighter by default. Opening UFC 154 Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas made Hominick a solid -260 favorite (bet $260 to win $100) while Garza opened as a +200 underdog (bet $100 to win $200) according to the MMA odds. Hominick faces a ton of pressure to perform in his home country with his job possibly on the line. He is looking to avoid a four-fight losing streak after winning seven of eight that put him in position for a title shot. Meanwhile, Garza has also dropped two in a row but appears to have less to lose since he looks like the upside of his career is still ahead of him. An upset victory against Hominick would be huge for Garza’s confidence and prove that very point. Garza’s last two wins have earned Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night honors, so there is no doubt that he can put on a show. Whether or not he can end his brief skid against a more experienced fighter in his opponent’s backyard though remains to be seen.
