The Franchise Exclusive Interview: Matt Hamill

By: Jordan Small - MMA HANGOVER

"We still have unfinished business..."

Those are the words from the man who has been a fighter his whole life. Ultimate Fighter Matt "The Hammer" Hamill was born deaf but he has not allowed his disability stand in the way of his dreams.

Matt's story is a truly inspirational one, enough of an inspiration to make a movie about which will be simply called "Hamill" scheduled to be released later this year. This film is based on Matt's years as a youth as he grew into a teenager.

Matt's athletic background is quite impressive to say the least, he is a three time NCAA division III wrestling champion and has been inducted into the division III Athletic Hall of Fame and has received gold and silver medals in the deaflympics for greco roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling.

Hamill went on to compete on season three of the Ultimate Fighter reality show but had to withdraw due to an injury.

However, he rebounded with a TKO victory over Jesse Forbes in the TUF 3 finale. Since his days as a reality star, Matt has gone on to become a popular and successful fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championships with a professional MMA record of 5-2 and he will be fighting in his home State of Columbus on Mar. 7 when Matt faces former WEC stand out Mark Munoz, at UFC 96.

During the interview Matt told us about his upcoming movie, his next fight and Michael Bisping.

TFR: We are talking with a special guest today, he was featured on season 3 of the hit reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter" and has gone on to become one of the more popular fighters in the UFC, ladies and gentlemen, Matt "The Hammer" Hamill! Matt how are you doing today?

Matt: Doing good, I'm just happy to be around here.

TFR: Matt, first things first, what are your thoughts on the Georges St. Pierre/B.J. Penn fight at UFC 94?

Matt: Yeah, it was a great fight, you know, other than I knew Georges St. Pierre was going to win, you know, B.J. Penn had no D towards GSP, but it was a great fight last night.

TFR: Do you feel that St. Pierre should be considered the top P4P fighter now?

Matt: Oh yeah, absolutely, you know, Georges St. Pierre is a well rounded fighter, there is no question about it, he is the best P4P.

TFR: You recently defeated fellow light heavyweight, Reese Andy, by second round TKO, while preparing for him, did you try anything different in your training regime? And if so, do you feel it was effective?

Matt: Well, the fight with Mark Munoz, coming up on Mar. 7, he's undefeated and he's the best fighter in WEC. The UFC was looking for the best fighters in the 205 division, it's a pretty tough fight, I'm going to win, you know, but I just have to do one fight at a time and when I'm ready it's 'Hammer Time'.

TFR: When you fight Mark Munoz, will you be trying anything different to catch him off guard?

Matt: Well, it will be a lot better than before, you know, because every time I fight, I get a lot better at fighting. My striking and my Muay Thai and my grappling are doing a lot better, so I'm just happy where I'm stuck right now.

In the beginning, I was very wrong, but now I'm more composed, more relaxed and being more smart in the game plan and I just can't wait to check myself out there.

TFR: There is an upcoming movie about your life called, "Hamill", is there any type of message you hope to get across through this movie?

Matt: This is going to be an awesome movie, it's all about early life from early age to college, but it's going to be a deaf actor but I don't know who is going to be the actor. It's about a true story, let me tell you one thing, just a little bit, it's really funny.

When I was in the prom, I had a 1930 old Model T and I was driving around and I picked up that girl and then took her to a Tackle Barrel and I shouldn't of taken her to a Tackle Barrel you know, but the whole car had no windshields and we're going about 45 MPH and I just crank them up just a little bit but by the time I got to the high school.

Her hair was doing like a Marge Simpson, it was straight up, you know so I didn't get a great prom night but you'll find out in the movie, so it's going to be awesome.

TFR: Matt, do you take it as an advantage or disadvantage that you cannot hear your corner shout out instructions during each round?

Matt: Well I would never hear them curse in the corner you know but what happens before I get to the ring, I just think of my game plan, all mind you know all my mind on the opponent and then work on him with what you do, but yet it's just a disadvantage.

I mean if I look at the coach in the corner, (the opponent) is going to hit me, you know, so it's not easy, that's why we review the game plan before we get to the ring, but sometimes on break, the coach will come up to me and tell me what to do, the other opponent has a good advantage they can hear their coach in the corner.

But I'm not even complaining, that's the way it is, there's nothing I can do so I just go out there and do what I can do. I always stay positive, I'm not really a complaining person, I just want to go way beyond and try to get to the top. Top 10 fighters in the world, that's my goal, right now I'm ranked eleventh in the world, so I'm just trying to get there.

TFR: If you were offered a coaching spot on "The Ultimate Fighter" would you accept?

Matt: Yeah, yeah but the first thing is Mike Bisping, the reality show, we still have unfinished business, unfinished business, I would love to have a rematch in America, but unfortunately he went down to 185, I can't get down to 185, I would become like a toothpick, there's no way, I weigh 230.

So I told Bisping like three weeks ago, I said "Bisping, stay at 185, that's smart." And I tried to shake his hand but he's too great too shake my hand, you know how he is, I'm more of a respect and class act fighter but if he comes up to 205, he knows where to find me.

TFR: If you had a choice of matching up any two fighters for your viewing pleasure, who would they be and why?

Matt: I don't know, I can't say, you know but all I can do is one day at a time, just let it flow, because basically the UFC does all the work, so that's up to the UFC to pick out the opponent, but for me, I've never called out someone, the only person I called out was Mike Bisping, I want people to remember me as the TUF 3 champ but I didn't make it, so from now on I just let the UFC take care of who the opponent I'm fighting, I will fight anyone.

TFR: Has there been any inspirations in your life when you decided to pursue fighting as a career?

Matt: Yes, I am the only deaf fighter in the UFC, there are 100 million deaf people around the world, every time they know I'm fighting. I'm getting 3000 e-mails pre-day and i can't even keep up with the e-mails, So I have like three or four pages backed up all saying Hammer fighting Mar. 7 out in Ohio, where my home State is in Columbus, all my family and my friends are going to be there.

It's going to be an awesome thrill and I cannot wait to feel the vibrations, to feel the vibrations will give me my killer instinct so I can't wait to feel it because I can never hear any music, I don't hear any songs so all the vibrations go into my chest and heartbeat, like I said i can't wait to go out there and catch it.

TFR: Finally, I'm going to say 10 different things and just say the first thought that comes to your mind.

Your Favourite Fighter Growing Up

Well I have been fighting for four years, but really I look up to all the fighters, I'm just the new kid on the block, I don't really know all their names but if there is one fighter I know it's Randy Couture. We train together in Colorado Springs, he helps me work on my freestyle so Randy is probably the one I look up to.

Rashad Evans

Well, Rashad Evans is ranked number one in the world right now, he just got the belt, I don't know when his next fight is. I'm still have three, four, or five fights left before I get to the title, I'm not in a hurry but Rashad Evans is no joke, he's the real deal and he's pretty smart, he knocked Chuck Liddell out you know, Chuck Liddell was down for like two minutes, (Rashad) has really heavy hands, yeah but Rashad Evans is the real deal.

Loveland, OH

Loveland is the heart of my blood, my grandfather always told me, never forget where you're from, every time I go to Loveland I always climb up the water tower and look around. It's not a big city.

I'm a country boy but you can see the sign "Home of Matt Hamill, three time NCAA champ", I haven't been there (recently) but I can't wait to get there a week before Mar. 7. Loveland is really like a family too me, it's where I grew up, you'll see in 2009 in the (Hamill) movie, it's great.

Your Favourite Food

Lasagna

Affliction MMA

Tito Ortiz

Steelers or Cardinals

Cards

Dana White

Dana White is good to me. He's nice to me so he's pretty good with the business you know, I don't really interact with him that much, all he does is shake my hand and (says) 'Thank you'.

Favourite Thing To Do Besides MMA

Cow tipping, yeah cow tipping (Matt and everyone laughs). Snowmobiling, four wheeling and spending time with my daughter.

Tito Ortiz

I talked to him and he's doing really good with the business, he's running his own business and he's doing great, that's all I can say. (Tito) and Jenna Jamieson are more like business partners so I'm happy for them but unfortunately we're a step away, I'm from New York and he's from California and I trained with him for like a year and a half with Team Punishment so Tito is doing really great.

And finally, Michael Bisping

(Matt sighs) Every time I go everywhere it's always Michael Bisping, always, always, there's nothing I can say I just have to move on you know. (A Kimbo Slice card board cut out with a picture of Bisping's face is brought over to Matt) Oh is that Bisping?

Yeah, Bisping's my hero. Yeah but Bisping is doing really good at middleweight, him and Dan Henderson are going to be on the reality show so I wish him good luck, nothing negative.

TFR: Do you have any shout outs you want to give?

Matt: I just want to say thank you all for all your support and don't miss my fight on March 7th, it's going to be a great fight, a co-main event, it's my turn to shine, I need to get back into the top 10, that's all I can say.

The Franchise Radio & MMA HANGOVER would like to thank Matt "The Hammer" Hamill for taking the time to talk with us and we wish him the best of luck on Mar. 7 at UFC 96 when he steps into the octagon against Mark Munoz. The Franchise Radio & MMA HANGOVER also encourages you to check out "Hamill" the movie which will be coming out later in 2009. You can also check out most of the video interview on YouTube by going to this link.