Matt Hamill retires from MMA

fightireland

After a 9-4 UFC run that included impressive victories over Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Keith Jardine, Tim Boetsch, and Seth Petruzelli, light-heavyweight contender Matt Hamill has confirmed that he is retiring from MMA competition. The TUF 3 castmember and inspirational figure made the announcement on his website today, in the wake of his TKO loss to Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 133. As Hamill wrote:

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.

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.

I was ready to make this decision after UFC 130 but my friends, family coaches and most importantly my daughter encouraged me to give it one last chance. My career has been plagued by injuries starting with The Ultimate Fighter and disrupted my training ever since.

There hasn’t been even one training camp where I’ve been able to train without training around an injury. 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.

I can’t continue to fight without having the hunger and desire to do so. I can’t let my performances reflect on my coaches who are the best in the world and the reason I’ve made it this far.

I have fallen in love with the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and I will continue to coach at our gym Mohawk Valley MMA along side my teammates and help the next generation of fighters make it to the UFC. I also look forward to continuing my business ventures outside the UFC including “Hamill” the movie based on my life story set to be released this fall.

Tito Ortiz

fightireland wrote: »

After a 9-4 UFC run that included impressive victories over Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Keith Jardine, Tim Boetsch, and Seth Petruzelli, light-heavyweight contender Matt Hamill has confirmed that he is retiring from MMA competition. The TUF 3 castmember and inspirational figure made the announcement on his website today, in the wake of his TKO loss to Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 133. As Hamill wrote:

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.

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.

I was ready to make this decision after UFC 130 but my friends, family coaches and most importantly my daughter encouraged me to give it one last chance. My career has been plagued by injuries starting with The Ultimate Fighter and disrupted my training ever since.

There hasn’t been even one training camp where I’ve been able to train without training around an injury. 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.

I can’t continue to fight without having the hunger and desire to do so. I can’t let my performances reflect on my coaches who are the best in the world and the reason I’ve made it this far.

I have fallen in love with the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and I will continue to coach at our gym Mohawk Valley MMA along side my teammates and help the next generation of fighters make it to the UFC. I also look forward to continuing my business ventures outside the UFC including “Hamill” the movie based on my life story set to be released this fall.

What an amazing guy !!! That Munoz head kick will be played in every UFC KO video forever, and rightly so...:)

fightireland

Always remember the time he "beat" Bisping.

Decent video up on our site if you're interested:

http://www.fightireland.com/2011/08/matt-hamill-retiresmore-than-fighter.html

ScareGilly

Damn, loved him since TUF 3...

I guess all that's left to say is...

"Let the king rest.." :cool:

Richy06

I'm glad he has the sense to bow out now when he's good and healthy rather than take anymore unnecessary beatings. Not many fighters do.

JoeyJJ

Very good fighter and a nice guy too. Wasn't surprised he looked very static in his last fight more so than usual and his takedown attempts lacked guile. Looking forward to the movie.

pablohoney87

Pretty sad to see him retire but when your hearts not in it you're only cheating yourself by stepping into the cage. I do think he'll make one of the best wrestling coaches out there in mma though.


WHOOOOOOOOO!!!
:D:D

Bodhidharma

Thats kind of a strange move, there are plenty of other fighters who are a lot more washed up than him, but I guess ha has more sense. He's a loss to the sport.

Mr. CooL ICE

I was never a fan of his, but I admire him biting the bullet and retiring before becoming a farce

fightireland

LordChessington wrote: »

I was never a fan of his, but I admire him biting the bullet and retiring before becoming a farce

explain farce?

boxer.fan

fightireland wrote: »

explain farce?

Ken Shamrock ????

MrStuffins

boxer.fan wrote: »

Ken Shamrock ????

You can type for days and still the only comparison you could make between Hamill and Shamrock is their both MMA Fighters.

Xlami

LordChessington wrote: »

I was never a fan of his, but I admire him biting the bullet and retiring before becoming a farce

"Farce?" Are you for real. His last defeat was obviously a bad loss but he was one of the most competitive guys in the division for the past 5 years. 3 months ago he would have been considered for a title shot had he beat Rampage. I always loved watching Matt since TUF and he put on so many great fights. His fight with Rich Franklin is one of the most under rated fights. The only time he was made look poor was against Jones. This guy could have fought another 10years without becoming a farce.

fightireland

Xlami wrote: »

"Farce?" Are you for real. His last defeat was obviously a bad loss but he was one of the most competitive guys in the division for the past 5 years. 3 months ago he would have been considered for a title shot had he beat Rampage. I always loved watching Matt since TUF and he put on so many great fights. His fight with Rich Franklin is one of the most under rated fights. The only time he was made look poor was against Jones. This guy could have fought another 10years without becoming a farce.

I don't even know where to start on this one so thanks Xlami for taking that one on. :mad:

DrPhilG

I don't think "farce" is the right word, but I think the point is that Matt could have kept on fighting but his heart wouldn't have been in it.

Good decision to retire if that was his mindset, and he'll have a solid career as a coach. Maybe in a few years he'll venture back into the cage again, if his body has healed up a bit. Sounds like he's been plagued by injuries.

Dangerous Man

I'm glad he's gone - can't stand him. Him or his soft head.

Forest Master

MrStuffins wrote: »

You can type for days and still the only comparison you could make between Hamill and Shamrock is their both MMA Fighters.

Eh, nobody compared him to Ken Shamrock. boxer.fan used Ken Shamrock of an example of a farce.

Remember during the Hamill-Rampage countdown? Hamill had to have a chiropractor in his camp at all times. He obviously needed adjustment more than once a week. Imagine the discomfort of that. His wrestling seems to be a bit rusty aswell which probably comes from the injuries. He had a good run to be fair and some good moments (munoz ko) so he should be remembered as a good Light Heavyweight.

Forest Master

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't say farce by any means.

Are people ITT just incapable of reading? Nobody called him a farce.

LordChessington wrote: »

retiring before becoming a farce

Forest Master

Forest Master wrote: »

Are people ITT just incapable of reading? Nobody called him a farce.

There ya go. Edited it...happy?

MrStuffins

Forest Master wrote: »

Eh, nobody compared him to Ken Shamrock. boxer.fan used Ken Shamrock of an example of a farce.

Forest Master, you need to stop following me around the forums and trying to argue with me, you never win! How long now until you mention that you don't like my band?

Anyway, an indirect comparison was made between Hamill and Shamrock. Someone claimed he might become something like Ken Shamrock. In order for this to happen, Hamill and Shamrock would need to have similar traits somewhere.

Just like if I said "Lionel Messi is in danger of becoming the next John Wayne Gasy". It would make no sense because they have nothing in common. Just like Matt Hammil and Ken Shamrock. They have nothing in common...... except they happen to have the same job.

Try to keep up yeah?

Mr. CooL ICE

fightireland wrote: »

explain farce?

Xlami wrote: »

"Farce?" Are you for real. His last defeat was obviously a bad loss but he was one of the most competitive guys in the division for the past 5 years. 3 months ago he would have been considered for a title shot had he beat Rampage. I always loved watching Matt since TUF and he put on so many great fights. His fight with Rich Franklin is one of the most under rated fights. The only time he was made look poor was against Jones. This guy could have fought another 10years without becoming a farce.

This:

Forest Master wrote: »

Are people ITT just incapable of reading? Nobody called him a farce.

I never called him a bad fighter. By "farce", I was referring to people who IMO should have retired long before they did, e.g. Chuck, Crocop

It probably wasn't the best word to use, but still no need to get your boxers in a twist

fightireland

LordChessington wrote: »

I was never a fan of his, but I admire him biting the bullet and retiring before becoming a farce

Agreed "farce" was a poor choice of words - insulting some may say but I accept what you were saying my good lord

MrStuffins

In fairness to Matt, I don't think his retirement should be seen as smart compared to the failure to retire of others like Chuck. Simply because, Matt is not and has never been an A Level fighter, not like Chuck. The problem with Chuck was, he was past it and fighting top guys and getting embarrassed.

Matt is an above average fighter, but he doesn't belong in the cage with the likes of Rampage IMO. And this is why he's been taking bad losses. He shouldn't retire from the sport in my opinion, but he should never expect to become World Champion either.

bjjwizard

just in time for his new movie being released.
sad to see such a character go

Forest Master

MrStuffins wrote: »

Forest Master, you need to stop following me around the forums and trying to argue with me, you never win! How long now until you mention that you don't like my band?

Anyway, an indirect comparison was made between Hamill and Shamrock. Someone claimed he might become something like Ken Shamrock. In order for this to happen, Hamill and Shamrock would need to have similar traits somewhere.

Just like if I said "Lionel Messi is in danger of becoming the next John Wayne Gasy". It would make no sense because they have nothing in common. Just like Matt Hammil and Ken Shamrock. They have nothing in common...... except they happen to have the same job.

Try to keep up yeah?

"Could become the next farce" - << see those bolded words - that's what makes the difference.

There was no comparison made between Hamill & Shamrock. Someone mentioned that there is the potential for a comparison to be made in the future, if Hamill didn't get out when he did.

Try to keep up. It's very simple logic.

MrStuffins

And I said you could potentially type all night and potentially the only comparison would potentially be made between them would be that they're both MMA guys......potentially!

Now stop stalking me

Mellor

The only thing that has the potential to become a farce is this thread

Xlami

LordChessington wrote: »

This:


I never called him a bad fighter. By "farce", I was referring to people who IMO should have retired long before they did, e.g. Chuck, Crocop

It probably wasn't the best word to use, but still no need to get your boxers in a twist

I wouldn't call Chuck or Cro Cop a farce, Chuck went out 1-5 against 4 champions. He was competing on the highest level. Cro Cop is still competitive in his fights but just his chin is gone. Farce should be reserved for the likes of Ken, Bob Sapp, John Ivey and much as it pains me to say it Jens Pulver may be becoming a farce. But I have faith he can get a few wins before he calls it a day.

Forest Master

MrStuffins wrote: »

Now stop stalking me

Oh right - so we both post in AH & MMA, and I'm stalking you? I've been posting here since I joined - I only post here & AH. Our paths managed to cross twice in the last week and your only explanation is that I'm "stalking" you? Do you know what a coincidence is? Kinda happens when people post on the same boards.