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Matt HamillAmerican wrestler, deaf from birth
Date of Birth: 05.10.1976
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill, also known as Matthew S. Hamill, was born in 1976 in Loveland, Ohio, United States. He was born deaf, but this did not hinder his passion for sports. He was introduced to combat sports by his stepfather, who was a wrestling coach at Loveland High School. Hamill later volunteered to teach wrestling to children. After high school, he became a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Early Career
Hamill gained recognition when he participated in the third season of the show 'The Ultimate Fighter.' He was trained by Tito Ortiz and competed in the light heavyweight division. He won his preliminary fight against Mike Nickels but was unable to continue due to injury in the semifinals. On June 24, 2006, Hamill defeated Jesse Forbes by technical knockout. On October 10, 2006, he won against Seth Petruzelli by unanimous decision. He also achieved a technical knockout victory against Rex Holman in the first round of a UFC 68 match.
UFC Career
In September 2007, Hamill faced Michael Bisping at UFC 75 in London, England. Although he lost the fight, many disagreed with the judges' decision, as Hamill dominated the fight and controlled Bisping multiple times. This fight became a classic example of the dangers of leaving a fight in the hands of the judges. A rematch between Hamill and Bisping never occurred due to injuries and weight category changes.
In April 2009, Hamill defeated Tim Boetsch by technical knockout in the second round of UFC Fight Night 13. He faced Rich Franklin in UFC 88 and was defeated by technical knockout in the third round. However, he secured a victory against Reese Andy in the second round at UFC 92.
In July 2010, Hamill competed against Keith Jardine at 'The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale,' winning by a decision of the judges. Later that year, he faced his former coach, Tito Ortiz, in a highly anticipated match. Despite Ortiz's psychological pressure before the fight, Hamill emerged victorious.
In April 2011, Hamill's next opponent was Phil Davis.
Personal Life and FilmHamill was previously married but divorced. He has a daughter who was born without any hearing impairments. His life story as a deaf athlete was the inspiration for the 2010 film 'Hamill.' The casting of an actor without hearing impairments in the lead role received criticism from the deaf community. However, Hamill himself had no issues with the film, as the actor portrayed his fighting skills accurately and communicated using American Sign Language.
Hamill was in a relationship with Brittany Houck, and they got engaged in May 2008.
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