Canada’s Two Top Featherweights Set to Collide

By Frank Curreri

Punching Yves Jabouin in the face has been on Mark Hominick’s mind for an exceptionally long time. And vice-versa.

“This fight was supposed to be booked for about eight years now,” Jabouin said.

“It was a fight that was always talked about,” Hominick said, “but never became reality.”

The remarkable wait will cease on Sunday, when Canada’s top featherweights finally collide at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta – a fitting setting for a bout between two of the most dangerous kickboxers in the WEC.

“I’m a super-proud Canadian and it’s been four years since I’ve been able to fight in Canada,” Hominick said. “Coming to Edmonton and being on the main card is an honor.”

Hominick described the relationship between him and his countrymen as “competitive rivals,” but downplayed suggestions that there was lingering bad blood between them.

“That’s exaggerated,” said Hominick (17-8).

Jabouin, 14-5, concurred.

“I’m not the type of person that has bad blood with anybody,” said Jabouin, a native Haitian whose family fled to Montreal when he was young to escape a civil war. “This is a sport for me. May the best (man) win … Hominick used to be the superstar in my hometown of Montreal, so this is a guy that I’ve looked up to for years.”

Given that kickboxing is each man’s specialty, you have to wonder if either man will attempt a takedown or if the fight will ever hit the ground. Seven of Hominick’s wins have come via submission, and his array of slippery triangle chokes and armbars would seem to give him a decided advantage over Jabouin in the grappling realm. But all indications are that pride, not prudence, may shape his strategy.

“I always focus on covering all elements of the game, but for this fight I have been really focusing on ensuring my stand up is sharp as ever since that is where Yves is strongest and where I want to dominate,” Hominick said. “I have gone back to my roots for this fight.”

Both speedsters could benefit from familiarity, having had years to study the other guy’s tendencies.

“I’ve been watching him forever,” Jabouin said. “He’s a great fighter and we have similar styles. It’s promising to be a very good fight.”

Hominick, a training partner of Sam Stout and Chris Horodecki, is a UFC veteran whose biggest win ever was over another “Yves” – Edwards – by triangle choke. The wiry 27-year-old had been a 5-1 underdog heading into that bout. He wants to add Yves Jabouin to that list and is thrilled that there matchup will be on the main card, just before the main event between Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus.

“Thinks in life happen for a reason,” Hominick said. “I think that’s why this fight is happening at this point in my career. I perform the best under the bright lights and this is the kind of fight I want.”