Light heavyweight hanging up his gloves following UFC 133 loss
Matt Hamill is calling it a career inside the cage.
The 34-year-old – who rose to prominence on Season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter – detailed his decision on his website earlier today. After 14 bouts — all but one of them in the UFC — Hamill steps away from the cage with a record of 10-4. Along with wins over Mark Munoz, Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz, “The Hammer” holds the distinction of being the only man to earn a victory over UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, albeit by disqualification.
“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 said in a statement posted on his website.
“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.”
Hamill explained that he had made up his mind to retire following his bout with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130, but decided to take one more fight at the encouragement of his friends and family, including his daughter.
“I want to thank Dana White, Joe Silva Lorenzo Fertitta and everyone at the UFC for the opportunity to make something special out of my life.
“Thank you to all my training partners who have shared their blood sweat and tears with me along the way. Thank you to all my friends and family for their unconditional support and most of all thank you to my fans! It’s the fans that have made this the truly special experience it has been.”
An eponymous biopic centered on Hamill’s sophomore year at Rochester Institute of Technology is set for release in the fall.
