Hominick: This Is My Title Run

Hominick welcomes the added pressure.

“I like that kind of pressure,” he said recently on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I think if you’re there, if you’re deserving of a title shot, you have to be able to handle that kind of pressure.”

Josh Grispi had been scheduled to get the next crack at Aldo. However, after Aldo withdrew from their bout with an injury, Grispi fought Dustin Poirier instead and dropped both a unanimous decision and his shot at the title. His loss could be Hominick’s gain.

“This is my title run,” said Hominick, who has won four straight. “Whenever the title shot comes, it’s when it’s supposed to happen. Things in life happen for a reason; I believe that. Things are falling in place, and I’ve got to go out there on January 22 and prove why I deserve it.”

In Roop, Hominick is facing an opponent he has trained with, though they’ve been at separate camps for this fight. Most recently Roop delivered a highlight-reel knockout when he kicked Chan Sung Jung in the head at WEC 51.

“He presents a lot of problems to a lot of guys [because] he’s 6-foot-1 at 145,” Hominick said. “That’s a huge, huge frame for the weight class. So that presents its problems on its own. He’s very awkward in his style and his standup, those long limbs, and he’s very durable. He’ll step in there with anybody. He’s very tough, but I’m ready for those things.”

Of course, just because the UFC is currently inclined to give Hominick a title shot if he wins, that does not guarantee he’ll get one. An entertaining performance could be a determining factor. With that said, though, victory is a must.

“My plan is to win by any means necessary,” Hominick said. “If I win by knockout, by submission, by decision -- it doesn’t matter, the way I win. I definitely want to go out there and show why I’m the number one contender, though. … I’m going to go in there to take him out.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:24:15) with Hominick.