Local Cincinnati journalist Paul Daugherty is reporting that former TUF3 standout and recent UFC headliner Matt Hamill is on the brink of retirement following his loss at UFC 133 to Alexander Gustafsson. Daugherty writes:
“HE SAYS HE’S DONE AND THAT’S GOOD. Local UFC man made good, Matt Hamill, Loveland HS grad, is going to retire. That’s a good and wise move, given he has lost his last 2 fights. The one Saturday night was especially horrific. Matt was taken down in the 2nd period and blasted repeatedly in the face and head. By the time the ref stopped the bout, Matt was defenseless. I know lots of people enjoy this sport. But when a guy you know is getting brutalized, it’s absolutely the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed”.
Should Hamill retire it would bring to an end the career of one of the most enduring veterans of The Ultimate Fighter, with Hamill’s career losses coming to Gustafsson, Quinton Jackson, Rich Franklin and controversially Michael Bisping. He was also brutalized by Jon Jones, but escaped with the victory after the current world light heavyweight champion was disqualified for illegal elbow strikes.