Technique.
It’s not even a big argument or a hard question to pose, that of how Mark Hominick is going to demolish the Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung.
It’s about technique.
Going into UFC 140 in Toronto, Hominick will be making his return to the cage for the first time since a spirited title tilt with featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo made him into a star. The soft-spoken Canadian became a cult hero that night, fighting through a vicious beating early to almost snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final round. He never took a backward step the entire night.
A lot has changed for him since then. He’s had a daughter. His coach and good friend passed away. He’s been adjusting to being a bigger name in the sport.
He began pushing for a fight with Jung almost immediately after the Aldo loss, smartly identifying the Zombie as a target that has a name but doesn’t match up well with him. Perhaps on account of his performance against Aldo and his newfound fame, the UFC was apt to give him the fight he wanted.
The reason the fight works for Hominick is that he is a technical marvel when it comes to kickboxing. Watching him operate in the cage is poetry in motion, slick in-and-out movements that set up combinations that only the very best are able to counter.
Jung is not.
They call the man the Korean Zombie for a reason, as he plods forward like an extra on The Walking Dead, arms outstretched and fists flying. He stalks his opponents, often eating tremendous punishment in an effort to get inside and start throwing leather. He’s gotten more intelligent recently, but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Jung is who he is.
So what the fight becomes is a lock to be exciting, and also a chance for Hominick to show he’s still relevant at 145 against a big name that shouldn’t be a great threat. As Jung shuffles forward, Hominick will blast him with combinations and then make distance before setting up to repeat the process.
It should truly be a clinic in breaking down an opponent with strikes, and The Machine will be the one administering the medicine.
So as these two men enter the cage to do battle, expect two things: fireworks, and Hominick to look good. He knew what he was doing when he asked for this fight, and Jung—as lovable as he is—will have trouble with the plucky Canuck.
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