Matt Hamill on Tito Ortiz, Kimbo Slice and Wanting to Fight Anyone in the Top 10

UFC light heavyweight Matt Hamill, who is coming off a second-round TKO win over Reese Andy at UFC 92, answered some questions from FanHouse this week. Via e-mail, we asked him about the UFC 92 fight, his future plans, whether his deafness affects his communication with his corner, and his thoughts on some of the big names in MMA.

You sustained a cut under your left eye against Reese Andy at UFC 92. How serious was that? Will it affect your training at all?
No, it was minor, it was actually some old scar tissue.

After the first round, your corner was getting on your case, yelling at you and swearing at you. Do you like that? Does that kind of approach motivate you to keep going? And how does being deaf affect how your corner communicates with you?
Duff (Holmes) and I have been training together for a long time. We communicate with our own form of sign language. Duff signs the first letter of each word as he says it and slips in some sign that he knows. I read his lips very well and we dont bring an interpreter into the Octagon so I can read his emotions too. He motivated me and I kicked it up in the second round.

You're 32 years old. Two other guys who fought at UFC 92, Wanderlei Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, are also 32 years old, and after their losses, a lot of people were saying those two are clearly past their primes. Is 32 old for a fighter, or is it more about how many fights you've had? With only seven pro fights on your record, are you a young 32?
Everyone is different, those guys are legends and have tons of fights. I only have nine. I listen to my body, my heart is young and I have plenty of juice when I fight. Look at Randy Couture, he is doing quite well.

When do you expect to get back into the Octagon? Do you have any thoughts on who your next opponent should be?
That is up to the UFC. I'd like to fight anyone in the Top 10.

Every fighter wants a title shot. You're in the light heavyweight division, which is probably the most talented division in the UFC. How many fights do you think you'd have to win in a row before you get that title shot?
I think 3-4 good wins in a row before I get any chance at a title shot. I'm still trying to climb into the top ten. I can't predict the future, I just let it flow.

You look bigger than most light heavyweights. What's your walking around weight, and have you ever considered moving up to heavyweight?
I walk around at 225-230. I have no problem cutting to 205 so I never considered moving up to heavyweight. Light heavyweight is the toughest division and I like a challenge.

You were on The Ultimate Fighter. Do you still watch the show? What do you think of the more recent seasons, and do you think the behavior in the house has gone too far?
I think every fighter needs some fresh air when leaving that house after seven weeks.

Tito Ortiz took you under his wing on The Ultimate Fighter. What's your current relationship with him? When do you think we'll see him fight again?
I will always consider Tito my friend. I'm not sure when but I'm sure we'll see him fighting again soon.

You and Kimbo Slice have one thing in common: You've both fought Seth Petruzelli. The difference, of course, is that you beat Seth by unanimous decision, while Kimbo got knocked out by him in 14 seconds. What did you make of the Kimbo-Petruzelli fight, and what are your thoughts about Kimbo?
I really don't know much about Kimbo. When I saw that Seth was going to fight him, I felt Seth would win because I have experience with him.

We've heard that there's going to be a movie about your life. What can you tell us about that?
It's about my early life from childhood to my first national championship at RIT. It's funny, sad and a great story. Filming begins this fall.

How many more years do you think you'll fight? What will you do when you retire?
I just take things day by day.