UFC 145 Results: Mark Hominick Suffers Close Loss to Yagin, What Now?

Canada's top featherweight, Mark Hominick, suffered his third consecutive loss in the UFC cage last night with a tough and slightly controversial split decision loss to Eddie Yagin at UFC 145 in Atlanta.

The first round was all Yagin, with Hominick seeming cold and just warming up as Yagin landed shots and leg licks, eventually dropping Hominick with a combination. Yagin followed up with shots, but Hominick was able to hang on and finish the round.

The second round saw much of the same, with neither fighter wanting much to do with wrestling or a ground fight and both trading minor exchanges. Yagin threw in the occasional leg and spinning kick, while Hominick looked content to jab his way to a point victory. Hominick started to relax and find a home for his jab, but Yagin dropped him again late in the round to score the significant blow.

It was a very solid and entertaining fight through two rounds, and I had Yagin edging out Hominick in both due to his knock-down strikes and going for it more than the Canadian. The third round saw Hominick pick it up even more, and he started to throw his straight right hand with a bit more success. Hominick scored to the body all night, and especially in the final round.

Despite Hominick dominating and finding his mark at will on Yagin late in the fight, his strikes did not appear to really stop Yagin from forging ahead. When the fight ended, it was clear that someone wasn't going to be very happy at the decision, and the judges picked Yagin's knockdowns to Hominick's constant jabbing.

It is an extremely tough loss for the Thamesford, Ontario native and it leaves him with three in a row for the first time in his career. Hominick was a 5-to-1 favorite coming into the fight, and this loss is as surprising as the one that came before it. Hominick was able to execute his hands game plan, but did not take any opportunity to try to take Yagin down and change the pulse of this fight.

Hindsight is always 20/20 and easy from the side of the cage, but one can't help but wonder what more kicks and a takedown or two might have done to enhance Hominick's chances in this one. He seemed comfortable in a boxing match, but even then didn't unload his right hand like we have seen him do in the past.

There are three UFC pay-per-view cards scheduled for later this year in Canada, so I can't help but think that Hominick will get a chance to be on one of them. I think his job is safe, especially with the division being thin of marquee talent. But Hominick finds himself in no man's land in terms of relevance and draw power he had just one year ago.