Jose Aldo says he'll "definitely beat Mark Hominick" at UFC 129 in Toronto

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Delayed from making his UFC debut on New Year's Day this year, UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo is itching to get back into the cage. He'll step into the Octagon for the first time in front of the largest North American MMA audience ever at UFC 129 Toronto this month, where he takes on Ontario native Mark Hominick.

The 24-year-old Brazilian Champion has wowed WEC fans for the last couple of years, and now seems poised to do the same in front of a much larger audience. For the young featherweight star, he's got a mission to accomplish in Toronto.

"I'm very focused on my mission, but I'm very excited," Aldo said in a pre-fight interview for UFC.com. "I'm very excited to be fighting in the UFC for the first time and being able to defend my title. This is a dream come true. I'm going to be defending my UFC title in front of 55,000 people, I can't wait."

In Hominick, Aldo faces perhaps the most dangerous striker he's met to date in his time with Zuffa. Though Aldo is aware of the danger Hominick's striking presents in the fight, he says he's preparing for everything Hominick is capable of.

"I don't pay too much attention to what his strengths and weaknesses are," said Aldo. "I try to pay attention to all aspects of his game and focus on his movements. What he does, how he does it. I don't pay attention to how technical or emotional he is. I just pay attention to what he does and prepare accordingly."

One thing Aldo hopes to avoid is Octagon jitters in his UFC debut, though he says the size of the crowd isn't going to be a factor for him.

"I don't care if I'm fighting in someone's backyard or not," Aldo said. "At the end of the day, when they close the Octagon door, it's he and I in there. I don't hear the 55,000 people screaming. I've said it before; I don't know what the hell they're saying anyways, so it doesn't bother me."

With 11 straight wins heading into this fight and an 18-1 record overall, Aldo is supremely confident in his skills, and regardless of what Hominick brings to the fight on April 30, Aldo guarantees a victory in Toronto.

"The most important thing to me is to stay focused, the only thing I'm listening to is my corners," he said. "As long as I go in there well organized and focused I'll be able to stay on top and defend my title."

"I will definitely beat Mark Hominick. If I didn't think I could then I wouldn't be here now. It's what I'm focused on, going in there, defending my title and winning."

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9049.shtml

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