Matt Hamill

Matt ‘The Hammer’ Hamill – MMA Profile

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill was born in 1976 and was a dominating wrestler during his college years. Despite the fact that he is deaf, Hamill has proven to be a daunting MMA combatant. Perhaps due to his lack of hearing, his manner outside the Octagon is gentler than other fighters. But, in the ring, he is a ferocious competitor who has overwhelmed notable fighters such as Jesse Forbes and Seth Petruzelli. His current record stands at 4 wins (3 of them by knockout) and 2 losses. He is still building what many fans believe will become a remarkable MMA record.

Before The UFC

Hamill has always been an impressive wrestler. While enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology, he was the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Champion 3 times in a row. His first NCAA championship title was awarded to him while he participated in the 167 lb. class. His second and third titles were earned in the 190 lb. and 197 lb. classes, respectively.

After leaving the Rochester Institute of Technology, Hamill competed in the 2001 Summer Deaflympics in Rome. During the Games, he won the Silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling and the Gold medal in Freestyle Wrestling. In 2004, his accomplishments in collegiate wrestling and the Deaflympics were recognized and Hamill earned a place in the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Hamill Forges On

Dana White had noticed Hamill’s unorthodox wrestling technique and drafted him for the third season of the popular reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter.” Unfortunately, an early bout with Mike Nickels resulted in injuries that required Hamill to leave the show. But, he returned for the Season 3 finale to defeat Jesse Forbes by TKO on a live SpikeTV broadcast. Later that year, he went on to overcome Seth Petruzelli, a semi-finals contender from Season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter.

In 2007, Hamill participated in UFC 68 and defeated Rex Holman in a first round TKO. Then, he traveled to London to fight kickboxer and jujutsu artist, Michael Bisping before losing in a split decision. In early 2008, Hamill crushed Tim Boetsch. Though he eventually lost a bout with Rich Franklin, Hamill has dedicated himself to his training, awaiting his next chance in the Octagon.