Mark Hominick Already Recovering, Credits Jose Aldo on Performance

By Kelsey Mowatt; photo courtesy Adrenaline Training Center

While UFC 129 featured several highlight reel stoppages and yet another title defence from welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, one of the card’s more compelling performances came from Ontario’s own, Mark Hominick. While ultimately the veteran failed to unseat featherweight champion Jose Aldo, many throughout the MMA world were left discussing the tenacity Hominick demonstrated throughout the bout, as the battered fighter pushed the renowned Aldo until the final bell. Of course, despite winning “Fight of the Night” honors and widespread praise for his efforts, Hominick isn’t celebrating the defeat.

“I have not sat down and watched the fight yet but I understand some of the mistakes I made in the fight,” Hominick told FCF. “I believe I was throwing too many single shots instead of combinations. Also, I underestimated my ground game and wished I would have attacked more off the bottom, as opposed to looking for a stand-up. It is easy to break down the fight after words, but Jose proved why he is the champion and lets me know I have to get back to the gym and work my way back to title contention.”

One of the reasons the fight was so memorable was due to the massive hematoma Hominick incurred on his forehead during the bout, in addition to a cut under the featherweight’s left eye, which also didn’t diminish the Canadian’s efforts.

“The injuries during the fight were mainly superficial,” Hominick reported. “Most of the swelling is already gone and I am simply left with a pair of black eyes. There were no stitches required and the CAT scan came back clear, so aside from the bruising and hurt pride I will bounce back very soon.”

“I appreciate all of the support I have been receiving and my hat goes off to the champ Jose Aldo.”

As Hominick reported to UFC commentator Joe Rogan afterwards, his bout with Aldo came just days before the London resident is set to welcome a new addition to his family.

“Right now this week I am focused on preparing for the baby, but as soon as the baby comes and we settle down I will back in the gym and looking to sign a fight as soon as I can.”

READ MORE - Mark Hominick Already Recovering, Credits Jose Aldo on Performance

Doerksen, Sokoudjou, Mein and More Confirmed for June 10th Score Fighting Series

By FCF Staff

Score Media’s upcoming June 10th event in Mississauga, Ontario, will feature several notable MMA competitors, as the company has announced that UFC vets like Joe Doerksen (pictured), Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou as well as former Shooto contender Antonio Carvalho will fight on the card.

In addition, Score has announced that rising prospects like Adrian Wooley and Jordan Mein will also fight at the event. When FCF spoke with Mein recently, the Lethbridge fighter reported that he could face Dream welterweight champ Marius Zaromskis on the card.

Other fighters that have been confirmed for the event include Canadian’s Jorge Britto, Josh Hill, Will Romero, Tyler Hardcastle, Denis Puric and Alex Ricci.

The press release reported that opponents will be announced shortly, pending approval from the Ontario Athletics Commission.

The June 10th card will be hosted by Mississauga’s Hershey Centre, and it will eventually be broadcast on The Score Fighting Series, which airs in Canada Thursdays and Saturdays on the Score sports network.

READ MORE - Doerksen, Sokoudjou, Mein and More Confirmed for June 10th Score Fighting Series

Video: Shamil Zavurov vs. Yasubey Enomoto FOTN

By FCF Staff

M-1 Global has posted the video footage of the recent “fight of the night” between welterweight champion Shamil Zavurov and Sengoku vet Yasubey Enomoto. The bout took place April 28^th, at M-1 Challenge XXV in St. Petersburg, Russia. You can check out the fight below.

READ MORE - Video: Shamil Zavurov vs. Yasubey Enomoto FOTN

Marcos Galvao to Compete in Bellator Season 5

By FCF Staff

Just weeks removed from his controversial, unanimous decision loss to Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren on April 16th, the promotion has announced that it has signed Marcos Galvao to a long term contract. The 29 year-old-fighter will compete in Bellator’s upcoming Season Five bantamweight tourney.

“After going blow for blow with our Featherweight Champion Joe Warren, there was really no doubt we wanted Galvao back with Bellator,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney was quoted saying in the official announcement. “In Bellator, fighters control their own destiny, and after the performance Marcos put on at Bellator 41, he definitely earned a spot in our bantamweight tournament.”

Galvao (9-4-1) will return to Bellator having gone 3-2 in his last five fights, with his only other loss during that stretch coming against Damacio Page at WEC 39. The Nova Uniao will hope to work his way back to a rematch with Warren, who is also dropping to 135lbs. and will apparently compete in the upcoming bantamweight tourney.

“I definitely don't believe I lost my fight with Joe Warren,” said Galvao. “I want a rematch just in case there was doubt in the first fight. I'll clear up those doubts the second time around.”

“I'm extremely excited to show the world that I can compete and win at this top level here with Bellator,” said Galvao. “Fans were able to see what I brought to the table the first time around against Joe Warren, and there's a lot more where that came from.”

READ MORE - Marcos Galvao to Compete in Bellator Season 5

Video: Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov

By FCF Staff

M-1 Global has posted the video footage of the recent, April 28^th bout between former TUF competitor Vinny Magalhaes and Viktor Nemkov, which was contested for the promotion’s vacant light-heavyweight crown.

READ MORE - Video: Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov

Report: Georges St. Pierre Eye Injury Not Believed to be Serious

By FCF Staff

Immediately following his unanimous decision win over Jake Shields Saturday night at UFC 129, UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre informed color commentator Joe Rogan that he was unable to see out of his left eye. The statement backed up comments St. Pierre was heard making to his corner earlier, when he informed his coaching staff after the second round that he was having trouble seeing out of the eye.

According to comments attributed to St. Pierre on the fighter’s Twitter account, the champion does not believe the injury is severe, as apparently he has been told that there is no damage to his retina.

"Hey guys just want to say that I am ok. I'll need to see a doctor in the next days! Yesterday I was told it was not a retina problem"

As a result of the injury, St.Pierre did not attend Saturday night’s post-fight press conference, and went to the hospital to have his eye checked out. The following statement appeared on the fighter’s Twitter account afterwards.

"Hey everybody, leaving the hospital soon, just finished all my eye tests, I still don't see anything from my left eye but I'll be find"

With the win at UFC 129, St. Pierre extended his winning streak to nine and his overall record to 22-2. The veteran fighter is set to turn 30 on May 19^th.

READ MORE - Report: Georges St. Pierre Eye Injury Not Believed to be Serious

Robert Drysdale Eager to Take “Next Step” Against Mike Nickels

By Kelsey Mowatt

Armageddon Fighting Championship turned many heads throughout the MMA and jiu-jitsu world last year, when the upstart, Canadian promotion announced the signing of former ADCC world champion, Robert Drysdale. Since then, the renowned BJJ practitioner has forged ahead with his MMA career, entrenching his position as a highly touted prospect by submitting established British Columbian fighters Clay Davidson and Bastien Huveneers. Now, Drysdale will look to his next challenge in the former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor and well travelled veteran, Mike Nickels, who the AFC announced recently will fight Drysdale on June 18^th.

“I think the fact that he’s a UFC vet is huge,” Drysdale told FCF, while discussing the heightened profile of his next opponent. “He brings a lot more attention, and I think that in some ways it’s like I’m taking the next step up the ladder. It’s a tough fight. He’s experienced and there will be a lot more people watching this fight than the previous two. I like that; I want people to know that I’m fighting and that I’m serious about this.”

While Nickels (9-4) has been involved in some memorable battles where he primarily utilized his striking skills, the veteran is likely better known for his grappling abilities. Like Drysdale, Nickels is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and it will be interesting to see at AFC 6, whether Nickels looks to engage the ADCC champ on the ground.

“I think he’s skilled,” said Drysdale, when asked to assess the ground skills of Nickels. “Of course grappling for MMA and grappling for submission tournaments are two different things. He’s a guy with far more fighting experience than myself and that counts, it counts a lot. So I’d say I have the edge on the sports jiu-jitsu, and he has the edge on the MMA aspect of it.”

“I’ve only seen a little bit of his ground game though,” Drysdale added. “I haven’t seen much, but he’s skilled. He’s someone that I respect; I feel like overall I’ll have an edge on him, but I definitely respect his ground skills. I’m not going to be that guy who says I’ll go in there and smoke him.”

Like any other accomplished BJJ competitor who has transitioned into MMA, Drysdale will continue to face questions, as to whether or not he is improving all of the skills that are necessary to be successful at the highest levels of the sport.

“I just want to get better at what I do,” said Drysdale, while discussing his evolution as a fighter. “There’s a lot to improve. My stand-up still has a long ways to go, my wrestling still has a long ways to go and my jiu-jitsu still has a long ways to go. So there are a number of different areas that I’m still improving on and that’s what I’m focusing on right now. We’ll see what happens in the future; I just want to get this fight out of the way.”

According to Drysdale, after his upcoming bout with Nickels, the 28 year-old-light-heavyweight has one more bout on his current contract with AFC, which he believes will take place in August. Unlike many other rising prospects, Drysdale insists he’s not worried about what offers may or may not come his way later this year, provided he wins his upcoming fights.

“My whole life I’ve always been the kind of guy that doesn’t like to plan too much out in the future,” Drysdale noted. “So much can change. I like doing what I love to do. I’ve always loved jiu-jitsu and I stuck with it, had success with it, then I wanted to move on to MMA. That’s where I am right now. I’m in no hurry to accomplish what other people think I should accomplish. My goal is to get better at what I do and keep doing what I love.”

READ MORE - Robert Drysdale Eager to Take “Next Step” Against Mike Nickels

Jake Shields Praises Georges St. Pierre for Latest Defense

By Kelsey Mowatt

While Georges St. Pierre will likely once again face a chorus of critics for failing to finish an opponent for the fourth time in a row, the fighter who had few answers for the welterweight champion’s technical and methodical approach won’t be one of them. Speaking after his unanimous decision loss to St. Pierre last night in Toronto, Ontario, Jake Shields was quick to praise the abilities of the man who became the first fighter since 2004, to hand him a loss.

“Obviously I’m not happy. I went in there and came up short,” Shields said at the post UFC 129 press conference. “Georges has great-stand up and kept me away. I couldn’t get him down; he did a great job of stuffing my shots, so I guess I got to go back, work on my boxing, and get better. Hopefully before I retire I’ll get another shot.”

Of course heading into their highly anticipated bout, there seemed to be near universal agreement throughout the MMA world that Shields would have to take St. Pierre to the ground, if the renowned grappler were to have any significant chance of dethroning the champ. As St. Pierre has demonstrated time-and-time again against notable wrestlers like Josh Koscheck, Matt Hughes or Jon Fitch, however, taking the 22-2 fighter down is no easy task.

“I wanted to take him down; I don’t know,” said Shields (26-5-1), while discussing the fact that after failing to take St. Pierre down in the earlier rounds, his takedown attempts became less frequent. “He stuffed my first couple of shots; I don’t know why I started boxing, I should have started shooting. It’s easier to look back now and say ‘man, I really screwed that up,’ but Georges is a great fighter. He fought great; he’s so evasive I couldn’t get on him. He did a great game-plan.”

In a rather interesting twist, however, while Shields was on hand at the press conference to praise the striking and grappling abilities of St. Pierre, the defending champion was unable to attend on account of a trip to the hospital. While St. Pierre scored more often on the feet, consistently landing a stiff jab and the occasional right, Shields landed enough strikes in return to apparently injure the champion’s left eye.

“At some points; he’s he was getting the better of me at some points I was getting the better of him,” said Shields, who looked much more comfortable on his feet than in previous outings. “Later on I started to feel like I was getting better but obviously I still have a ways to go. I’m going to go back, and really, really start focusing on my boxing, because I use that to get people down and Georges was able to stop my takedowns. I’ve worked on it some but I’m really going to focus on it now. Hopefully my next fight I’ll look completely different.”

Yes, it will be interesting to see who the UFC matches Shields up with next, a world class fighter, who evidently has no problem handing out credit, where credit is due.

READ MORE - Jake Shields Praises Georges St. Pierre for Latest Defense