Former UFC fighter Matt Hamill, the first deaf competitor in the organization, announced that he can hear for the first time at age 41 thanks to new digital hearing aids.
Former UFC fighter Matt Hamill kicked off the new year with a life-changing breakthrough. Known for being the first deaf fighter in the UFC, he’s now experiencing sound for the first time ever. How? A new digital hearing aid!
Hamill shared this incredible journey on Instagram. “I just got the most powerful digital hearing aids ever made,” he wrote. Imagine hearing your kids’ voices for the first time at 41. Crazy, right? He finally heard his mom’s voice too, and she cried. Heartwarming stuff.
He’s eager to hear his brother Pat’s voice next, though he humorously hopes it’s not like a foghorn. Adjusting to all these new sounds will take time, but he’s excited. And why wouldn’t he be? Happy New Year indeed!
Now, shifting gears a bit—did you know Hamill holds a unique win over Jon Jones? Yep, the only one! It was due to a disqualification for illegal elbows during The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale back in December 2009. “The Hammer” had quite a run, going 10-5 in the UFC.
As his career wound down, Hamill lost three of his last four UFC fights. But he didn’t stop there; he fought in other promotions like World Series of Fighting and Combate Americas. In fact, he won his last two MMA bouts on the regional scene, wrapping up with Maverick MMA in April 2018. What a journey!