Savant Young

After having an up and down time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at lightweight, Hominick was supposed to make a big splash moving down to his natural weight of 145 pounds in World Extreme Cagefighting, but again was met with mixed results.

Eager to prove himself as one of the best in the featherweight division, he has been given such an opportunity in Affliction against the currently rebounding Trenell “Savant” Young.

“I’m just pumped to be a part of history,” stated Hominick of his participation in Affliction. “I was lucky to be on this card. I’m thrilled and plan on stealing the show.

“They put the fighters first, that’s what they’re concerned about, and they’ve also got the fans in mind as well. I think the fans can really appreciate how great of a card this is. Top to bottom, it’s just stacked.”

Recently, Hominick’s opponent, Savant Young scored a major upset when he defeated Shooto superstar “Lion” Takeshi Inoue. In facing off against Young, Hominick feels he could put himself back in the running for a title, should Affliction decide to crown a champion at 145-pounds.

“Well, with Savant, I’m fighting a top ten fighter, who previously beat the No. 2 ranked guy in the division, so beating him puts my name back where it belongs, in my opinion,” he said. “Coming out of the show as the winner, I think it puts me in contention right away.”

However, Hominick knows that is easier said than done.

“I think it’s an exciting match-up,” he commented. “He’s going to stand and bang with me, and he brings it and is 100 percent with whatever he does, but on paper, I think it’s going to go my way, and in the ring as well.

“He’s short and stocky, and he definitely wants to be on the inside, and I on the outside. He throws caution to the wind with his punching, and that’s the type of fighter I like. I like catching guys when they make mistakes, and make them pay for it.”

Currently Hominick is signed to three-fight deals with both Affliction and TKO in Canada, where he has only one aspiration, to regain his lost title.

“I really don’t want to fight anyone unless it’s for a title,” he said about TKO. “I lost to (Hatsu) Hioki twice, with the last one happening in controversial decision, so I don’t think there’s anyone really left in that division right now.

“I just want to fight for the title, and I think that’s what they’re saying too. If he has to fight someone first and then I have to fight the winner, whoever, I’m just looking to be the champion there.”

Regardless of individual promotional desires, Hominick’s overall goal remains the same.

“You’re only as good as your last win, and I have to prove where I am in this division,” he stated. “Talk is cheap. I consider myself to be one of the best in the division, I just have to step up and prove it.

“I just have to prove it in this next fight with Savant, show that I belong in the Top 10. I won’t be calling out anyone above that, because I’ve got to prove myself and show them where I belong.”

With aspirations to be recognized as one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world, and with ample opportunities in multiple promotions before the end of the year, this could be the time for Mark Hominick to put his stamp on the division once and for all.

“I’d like to thank NCFC Fight Management and MMATraining.com,” he closed out. “I’ve been doing a daily blog for my training for this camp, and they’ve been monitoring both workouts, day and night, for this past month.

“To the fans, come and be a part of history. It’s going to be a great show with a stacked card. The card is based around heavyweights, but there’s a couple of 145’ers that are planning on stealing the show.”

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- LION TAMER SAVANT YOUNG’S REVERSAL OF FORTUNE
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 – by Tom Hamlin – MMAWeekly.com

Left to his own devices for the first time in more than a decade, Young had to decide whether fighting was still in his blood. He’d had many ups and downs in the business, and didn’t know if he could stomach more.

“I had to reassess where I was at,” he continued. “Everything came so quick and so fast, I lost sight of being like that college athlete trying to go pro. It was an adolescent mistake on my part to lose that hunger.”

But Young was determined to reignite his passion for fighting, and started a gym in his neighborhood of Pasadena, Calif., to surround himself with the sport. The sound of punches snapping against the heavy bags focused him. But the right people still weren’t calling.

“It wouldn’t be smart for me as a fighter to fight in the IFL, be seen on national TV, and now I’m fighting in King of the Cage,” he said.

Somehow, the ripple he started in the online pond reached a promoter for Shooto. The Japanese promotion needed someone to take on top featherweight Takeshi “Lion” Inoue at its 20th anniversary “Tradition” show.

Young didn’t know who Inoue was. He had always been a fighter who just showed up and did his job, regardless of the outcome. He could, however, tell that the promoter was looking to pad Inoue’s record.

Maybe both of them could be happy, Young thought. The promoter would get his can, and he would use the opportunity to prove to the world how dangerous a focused “Savant” Young was.

“I thought what do I have to lose if I lose to this guy?” Young said. “I don’t have a lot to lose, but I have so much more to gain from it. And to be honest, I was a little perturbed, because I know they thought I was going to come in there and lay down. That’s when the challenge part of it came out, and my competitiveness sparked.”

Young did not lie down for Inoue, and battled his way to a huge decision upset over the highly ranked Japanese featherweight. His springboard jump to a guillotine choke in the second round sealed the victory, and despite eating numerous leg kicks, his punches found their home. Inoue, Japanese fans, and the world were caught off guard.

Now, Young’s cell phone is ringing off the hook. He is fielding offers from Affliction, who wants him for its inaugural show on July 19; Dream, which is soon holding a featherweight tournament; and of course, Shooto. Nothing has been signed, but it’s a nice change of pace from the struggles of before.

Young now knows he can fend for himself.

“I had to realize that this is what I love to do, and if I’m not doing it 100 percent, I’m not doing it at all,” he said.