The Hammer is an inspirational drama based on the life of MMA's first deaf mixed martial artist, Matt "The Hammer" Hammill. Hammill's story is exactly the sort of tale that dramatic movie makers love to put on screen: overcoming adversity, succeeding against all odds. The only downside to the story is that he didn't quite go out on top, but that shouldn't count against him: The Hammer had a really, really good career in MMA. A three-time NCAA Division III wrestling champion, Hammill took part in The Ultimate Fighter 3 and went on to fight most of his career in the UFC. Hammill is the only man with a win over Jon Jones - albeit a DQ victory as Jones used some illegal tactics. He also, however, holds wins over the likes of Tim Boetsch, Mark Munoz, Keith Jardine, and Tito Ortiz, among others, in a professional career that saw him go 12-5 in all. Hammill worked closely with the makers of the film (which gets bonus points for utilizing former UFC champion Rich Franklin in a supporting role), and what it lacks in budget and big name actors, it makes up for in heart. In real life, Hammill is also attempting a comeback, having signed with the World Series of Fighting after retiring for a time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTdq1lHyxc
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
