After Matt Hamill was violently put down by Alexander Gustafsson this past Saturday at UFC 133, company president Dana White declined to comment on Hamill’s future with the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion. On Monday, “The Hammer” made White’s job a lot easier by deciding himself that it was time to call it quits.
“Today is a sad day for me. After six years and 13 fights in the UFC I’m ready to hang up my gloves and retire from this amazing sport,” Hamill stated in a press release. “The UFC has been extremely good to me and given me an opportunity to make a great living. That exposure has allowed me options outside the Octagon as well. I just don’t have it in me to fight anymore and my last two performances have shown that.”
The 34-year-old emerged onto the Octagon scene in 2006 as a contestant on the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” He owns a respectable 10-4 record, with all but his first professional fight coming under the UFC’s banner. However, his career has been hit hard by the injury bug and Hamill determined it was time he gave his body some much needed R&R.
“There hasn’t been even one training camp where I’ve been able to train without training around an injury,” he added. “I have not been kind to my body and it has nothing left after 28 years of non stop competition. It’s time to finally give it a rest.”
Prior to suffering his brutal 2ndRound TKO to the up-and-coming Gustafsson, which Hamill took on last-minutes notice, he dropped a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in the main event at UFC 130.
Hamill is the only legally deaf athlete to ever compete in the UFC. His riveting biopic film “Hamill” is set to hit the big screen this fall. The humble light heavyweight will continue teaching at his Mohawk Valley MMA in New York.
“The UFC has become family to me and I hope to be involved with the number one mixed martial arts organization in the world as a coach, ambassador and fan for a long time to come,” Hamill said in closing.
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