Is matt hamill still alive
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Matt Hamill
American mixed martial arts fighter
Matt Hamill (born October 5, 1976) is an American former mixed martial artist and wrestler who competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the UFC.[1] He is a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion in wrestling (167 lb class in 1997, 190 lb class in 1998 and 197 lb class in 1999) while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York.[2]
Early life
Hamill has been deaf since birth. He was introduced to wrestling by his stepfather[3] Michael Rich, who was the head wrestling coach at Loveland High School.[4] Hamill attended the Rochester Institute of Technology for three years transferring there after a year at Purdue University.[5]
Mixed martial arts career
The Ultimate Fighter
Hamill was on The Ultimate Fighter 3 reality television show, training under former UFC Light Heavyweight ChampionTito Ortiz in the 205 lb (93 kg) weight class. He won a preliminary fight against Mike Nickels vi
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Matt Hamill was born deaf, but never let that stop him from becoming one of the most inspirational athletes to step foot on a wrestling mat.
A native of Loveland, Ohio, Hamill was introduced to wrestling by his stepfather, John Rich, who was head wrestling coach at Loveland High School. Because he couldn’t hear coaching instructions, he learned to wrestle with hands-on demonstrations. By the time he graduated, he had set Loveland wrestling records in eight different categories, including career victories.
He went to Purdue University on a full scholarship but transferred to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) after one year to take advantage of the strong support of deaf students. At RIT, he won three NCAA Division III wrestling titles at three different weight classes. He was the Division III Outstanding Wrestler in 1998 and 1999. A prolific pinner, he was a three-time All-American, a three-time New York State Champion, and a three-time RIT Invitational Champion. He was undefeated his senior year, and compiled an impressive overall career college record of 89-3, setting pin
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Matt Hamill, the retired UFC fighter known as “The Hammer,” has started 2025 with a life-changing revelation. After a lifetime of complete deafness, the 48-year-old has shared that he can now hear for the first time, thanks to advanced digital hearing aids. Hamill’s heartfelt announcement on Instagram has resonated with fans and the wider MMA community, marking another incredible chapter in his remarkable life.
From Wrestling Champion to UFC Star
Hamill’s journey to stardom was extraordinary from the start. Born deaf, he didn’t let that hold him back from becoming a high school wrestling champion and eventually one of the most accomplished fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA).
Over his 13-8 professional MMA career, Hamill earned victories against legends like Tito Ortiz, Mark Munoz, and Keith Jardine. He also faced top-tier opponents such as Michael Bisping, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and Alexander Gustafsson. However, his most famous fight came in 2009 when he became the only man to technically defeat Jon Jones, albeit via a controversial disqualification for illegal e
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