Overcoming is the word that best describes Matt hamill. The 35-year-old American, who will be in the main fight of UFC 130, was born deaf and has speech difficulties, but the problems did not stop the athlete from studying, attending a good university, dating a beautiful girl and becoming a star. of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). There is less than a week until the confrontation against Quinton “Rampage”Jackson, Matt Hamill gave an exclusive interview to SUPER FIGHTS, in which he states that at no point did he let disability overcome him.
“I never rebelled, I don’t consider it a positive emotion. Things weren't easy, but all my experiences made me the man I am today”, said Hamill, who, despite the thought, revealed that he was bullied in his childhood until he found the sport.
“I didn’t have a lot of confidence when I was a kid. I wore one of those hearing aids, which look like a box around my neck, almost like a necklace. The kids picked on me a lot because of that,” said Hamill. “It was only when I found wrestling that I started to trust myself, because I realized that no one cares what they look like on the mat (the place where wrestling competitions are held). If you can fight well, the difficulties and your appearance don't matter,” said the fighter.
Check out the full interview with Matt Hamill below, who spoke, in addition to his childhood problems, about his beginnings in the sport, his dream of fighting in the UFC and the feeling of having a film with his life story.
SUPER FIGHTS: How old were you when you started in the sport?
Hamill: I started wrestling around three years ago, but I don't know exactly. I was wrestling at Loveland High School when my stepfather, who also became a coach, introduced me to the sport as a life lesson.
SUPER FIGHTS: Who are the people who encouraged you to start the sport?
Hamill: I had a very close family growing up in Ohio. A large part of my desire to win is the influence of my grandfather and my stepfather. My mother divorced my biological father when I was a child and remarried my stepfather, who I always call “Technician.” I had a great relationship with my dad, but my stepfather was my “Technician”. He took me to wrestling school and used the sport to keep my mind occupied. My grandfather, in turn, gave me a lot of self-confidence, made me dream to achieve what I wanted to be.
SUPER FIGHTS: How important is sport in your life?
Hamill: Before discovering MMA and making my life professional, I wrestled at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT University) in New York. I was three-time NCAA champion (main wrestling division in the United States). Wrestling and MMA mean the world to me because they allowed me to be someone like everyone else. I am not judged in the fight, during a fight no one cares if you can hear or not.
SUPER STRUGGLES: At any point in your life were you revolted by your deafness problem?
Hamill: I've never been angry, I don't consider it a positive emotion. Things weren't easy, but all my experiences made me the man I am today.
SUPER FIGHTS: What was your childhood like?
Hamill: I didn't have a lot of confidence when I was a kid. I wore one of those hearing aids that looks like a box around my neck, almost like a necklace. The kids used to pick on me a lot because of that. It was only when I found wrestling that I started to trust myself, because I realized that no one cares what they look like on the mat (the place where wrestling competitions are held). If you can fight well, difficulties and your appearance don't matter.
SUPER FIGHTS: What is it like to have a film made about your life story?
Hamill: It was such an honor and I still can't believe it actually happened. The guys behind the film did a really good job, I couldn't be happier with the finished product. I just hope that this film brings my story to more people and is an inspiration to many other deaf people around the world.
SUPER FIGHTS: Do you believe you can be a hero for other deaf people in the world?
Hamill: I can't say for sure, but it will be great if I have inspired at least one deaf person. I've never let my inability to hear stop my dream of fighting in the UFC, and if it can inspire people, that would be great.
SUPER FIGHTS: You face the Rampage Jackson at UFC 130. What do you expect from the fight?
Hamill: I hope to win well. We know that Rampage He's a great fighter, but we also know he's one-dimensional. We have prepared a perfect game plan to win the fight. Now my job is to go out there, execute this strategy on Saturday night and win. I think the winner of this fight will be the guy who feels comfortable in more than one area of fighting, and I believe it will be me.
SUPER FIGHTS: Leave a final message for Brazilian fans.
Hamill: I just want to thank everyone for their support and I hope everyone enjoys this Saturday's fight. As always, I will do my best to provide a show for you all. I also hope Brazilian fans are excited for UFC 134 in August in Brazil. It will be a night of incredible fights.
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