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Interview #3 with Matt Hamill
Kokonut Pundits: In the TUF3 show was there anything else that wasn't shown on tv that Hamill fans would be surprised to hear? Anything that would be new to Hamill fans about behind the scenes in the TUF3 filming.
Matt Hamill: the show didnt show how much trouble the other fighters were giving me. I would be sitting in the hot tub and someone would be throwing beer bottles at me. I was never sure of who it was though and someone sprayed Pam all over the floor by the stairs just for a joke. Always trying to find ways to hurt me.
Kokonut Pundits: So, some of the fighters in the house during the TUF3 filming was taking advantage of your hearing loss?
Matt Hamill: Yes. They wanted me to quit and leave the show.
Kokonut Pundits: No kiddin. Now, when you say PAM you mean the cooking oil spray?
Matt Hamill: Yes
Kokonut Pundits: And you slipped on it?
Matt Hamill: Yes, I slipped on it.
Kokonut Pundits: Did you get injured?
Matt Hamill: No, luckily. Jokes can be dangerous haha...but nothing will ever make me quit.
Kokonut Pundits: That's good to hear. Don't let a little deafness defeat you.
Matt Hamill: I've had it all my life. It's not going to stop me now.
Kokonut Pundits: Of course. Now, you were born deaf, right?
Matt hamill: Yes.
Kokonut Pundits: Rubella?
Matt Hamill: I dont know what caused it... just born that way. My mother had no illnesses during her pregnancy.
Kokonut Pundits: Is there deafness in your family?
Matt Hamill: No, I'm the only one. A good gift.
Kokonut Pundits: Your family sounded very supportive of your recent TUF3 fights.
Matt Hamill: They are behind me in every decision I make 100 percent.
Kokonut Pundits: In our last private talk, you were talking about making a very tough decision choosing between training for Olympic 2008 wrestling or go for the UFC route. Have you made your decision?
Matt Hamill: I have chosen to take the UFC path. I feel that I am having more success with it. The Oympics has been my dream all my life but I feel like time is passing by.
Kokonut Pundits: So, is there a 3 year contract you were talking about?
Matt Hamill: I dont know about the contract just yet. I haven't come across anything yet.
Kokonut Pundits: So, no contract yet?
Matt Hamill: No, I didn't get a contract yet. I still have to prove myself.
Kokonut Pundits: But you are training with Tito Ortiz, correct?
Matt Hamill: Yes, I will be traveling back to his camp soon again to train. I trained with him prior to the fight against Jesse.
Kokonut Pundits: And where is that training camp?
Matt Hamill: Big Bear Camp in CA.
Big Bear Training Camp.
Kokonut Pundits: Yeah, I saw that fight on pay per view. Jesse was a goner.
Matt Hamill: Jesse thought I was going to be an easy fight. He asked to fight
me.
Kokonut Pundits: That was Jesse big mistake! He actually asked you to fight him??
Matt Hamill: Yeah, ha ha. As far as that goes that probably just comes from me living at his camp while I was training along with 8 other fighters.
Kokonut Pundits: Also, I'm hearing that you and Tito are roommates. True?
Matt Hamill: No. It is just me, Dean Lister, Josh B, Kendall.
Kokonut Pundits: So, not really roommates but everybody sharing the training camp?
Matt Hamill: Right.
Kokonut Pundits: Dean Lister. Wow. Are you training with him, too?
Matt Hamill: Yes. And Rampage, too.
Kokonut Pundits: Have you learned some things from Lister?
Matt Hamill: Yes, I learned a lot from Lister and I am getting better. I spar with a lot of good fighters at Tito's camp and it really has improved my skills as a fighter.
Kokonut Pundits: Who is Rampage?
Matt Hamill: He fights in Pride. He is scheduled to fight July 22nd against Matt Lindland.
Kokonut Pundits: So, how are you paying for your training? You have to make your trips from NY to CA to train at Big Bear.
Matt Hamill: I get help from friends but to be honest it has been a struggle trying to come up with travel expenses since I dont have a contract. It's not easy.
Kokonut Pundits: Is there an address where people can donate to help you with your expenses? Where can the fans of Matt Hamill send their money to and help you with your expenses?
Matt Hamill: Yes.
Send in your donations to help Matt Hamill
with his training expenses to:
Matt Hamill
PO Box 61
New York Mills, NY 13417
Matt Hamill: By the way, I dont have any sponsors at all, too. I am trying to cut back on living expenses so I have money to travel.
Kokonut Pundits: How is your family and your relationship to them after all of this?
Matt Hamill: I'm at my ex mother in law house. She is supportive of me. My relationship with my ex wife and her family is great. They consider me a part of the family.
Kokonut Pundits: That's great! It's important to maintain a good, healthy relationship.
Matt Hamill: Yeah.
Kokonut Pundits: I was looking for you on the Pay per view fight between Tito Ortiz and Shamrock. Were you at Las Vegas to watch Tito Ortiz fight Shamrock? I didn't see you. Kendall was the only familiar face over there.
Matt Hamill: No, I was on vacation in Ohio in my hometown. I watched it though at my grandmas house.
Kokonut Pundits: Me too, on pay per view. Great fight! What did you think of the fight?
Matt Hamill: I wasn't surprised.
Kokonut Pundits: Yeah, me too.
Matt Hamill: I knew it was going to be short.
Kokonut Pundits: Very short! 1:07. Wham! An easy win!
Matt Hamill: Yup.
Kokonut Pundits: Would you fight anybody now at this stage?
Matt Hamill: I will fight anyone. I have no fear. I'm not one to trash talk
but what you see is what you get from me.
Kokonut Pundits: Yeah. Have you heard anything from Tito about Shamrock?
Matt Hamill: No, but they did have a celebration afterwards. They invited me to go but I had too much going on with family since I had been away for so long so I didnt go. They had a big Team Punishment party
Kokonut Pundits: I can imagine that big party. Everybody whooping it up. Ha ha!
Matt Hamill: Yes. All 3 fighters from Team Punishment went. So, it was a big celebration.
Kokonut Pundits: Which fighters?
Matt Hamill: Joe Stephenson, Josh and Tito.
Kokonut Pundits: One big question keeps coming up on some of those MMA forums. Will you fight Mike Bisping??
Matt Hamill: Yes, I will. It's just a matter of time.
Kokonut Pundits: What is Tito saying about the Hamill-Bisping fight?
Matt Hamill: It will be a good fight.
Kokonut Pundits: Ah. I think it will be a good fight. I'm sure you will beat Bisping. Just watch out for his flying knee kick. Awesome.
Matt Hamill: Yes, I know. I've been training in Syracuse. I'll be ready for those kicks.
Kokonut Pundits: Bisping looks like he has springs in his legs. Who are you training with in Syracuse, NY?
Matt Hamill: Ray Newkirk, and Ken and Dennis at Tai-Kai in Syracuse.
Kokonut Pundits: Ken and Dennis? Do you have their last names?
Matt Hamill: No. I am terrible with last names. I need to get on top of those. Get ready for future interviews and give them proper credit.
Kokonut Pundits: Yeah. Good idea.
Matt Hamill: Ken trains similar to Dean Lister. Ray is a very good all around fighter.
Kokonut Pundits: Dean Lister is known for his grappling skills, correct?
Matt Hamill: Yup. Look at Streetwise Fight Wear. There's a pics of me and Ray.
Kokonut Pundits: Ok..let me check. On that website it says - *****COMING SOON AGAIN AUTOGRAPHED T SHIRTS BY MATT HAMILL***** When will that be?
Matt Hamill: I dont know. They are processing it now. The t-shirts haven't come in yet.
Kokonut Pundits: So, you haven't signed the shirts yet? I see. Ok. When is your next fight?
Matt Hamill: I don't know. I am waiting for Tito to hook me up.
Kokonut Pundits: Any names? Potential fighters?
Matt Hamill: He will contact me when something comes up. No names yet.
Kokonut Pundits: Do you know where it will take place?
Matt Hamill: Las Vegas most likely or California.
Kokonut Pundits: How many minutes left do you have for this interview?
Matt Hamill: I can do a few more questions.
Kokonut Pundits: Ok. What were you like when you were younger....wrestling...how you interacted with other people....did you drink at Rock Festival at Gallaudet University...things like that...are you different now than when you were younger?
Matt Hamill: I was very focused on wrestling. I ate, breathed and lived wrestling. It was all I knew. If I went to parties I'd have a gallon of milk in my hand. And I didnt have my first alcoholic drink until 2 years ago.
Kokonut Pundits: So, you are still the same guy that carries around a gallon of milk?
Matt Hamill: Ha ha. Not now since I'm working as a bouncer. I enjoy a beer here and there.
Kokonut Pundits: Have you ever gotten drunk?
Matt Hamill: I will never be a heavy drinker though. Thats not me.
Kokonut Pundits: Ah....very good.
Matt Hamill: Never drunk.
Kokonut Pundits: I get a lot of readers looking for Matt Hamill info on my Kokonut Pundits blogsite. Especially for interviews. They really look up to you.
Matt Hamill: I really appreciate that. That's great. I appreciate all the support from fans.
Kokonut Pundits: You are an inspiration to the deaf/hh community.
Matt Hamill: The more help I get from donated money, the more time I can spend training and get a better chance to win a contract.
Send in your donations to help Matt Hamill
with his training expenses to:
.
Matt Hamill
PO Box 61
New York Mills, NY 13417
Kokonut Pundits: Right. I'd love to see you and Mike Bisping fight.
Matt Hamill: Soon. That is what I want.
Kokonut Pundits: That is what everybody has been saying.
Matt Hamill: Yeah, see who the real winner is.
Kokonut Pundits: Yeah. YOU!!
Matt Hamill: Him and I are still both undefeated.
Kokonut Pundits: But Bisping had more fights than you.
Matt Hamill: I know Bisping has more experience than I do but I am a fast learner. I have good mechanics and control. I'm getting better at striking to take him down, and ground and pound. So that would be an advantage. I didn't do bad for ten months of training.. WHOOOOOOOOO!
Kokonut Pundits: Yes...ground and pound...meatloaf style. Did you have a question for me?
Matt Hamill: Nope. It was good talking to you again and I appreciate all that you do for me.
Kokonut Pundits: Yeah, no problem. Nice talking to you Matt. Stay healthy!
Matt Hamill: You too.
Kokonut Pundits: Thanks.
