Hamill rose to prominence as a fighter when he appeared on the third season of MMA reality series The Ultimate Fighter as a protégé of former UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz. He went on to join the UFC and competed 15 times from 2006 to 2013, earning the nickname "The Hammer."

Former UFC fighter Matt Hamill has announced he can hear for the first time in “41 years”, thanks to “the most powerful digital hearing aids ever made”. Hamill last fought in mixed martial arts in 2018, and his final bout in the UFC took place in 2013. The American, 48, was the first deaf fighter to compete in the UFC.

UFC fighter Matt Hamill. Deaf since birth, Hamill recently was able to hear for the first time thanks to powerful hearing aides newly acquired, he revealed in an Instagram post Wednesday. "I just got the

Matt Hamill, MMA’s first deaf fighter, hears for the first time in 41 years thanks to advanced hearing aids, inspiring hope in the deaf community.