(‘Okay, quit messing around now. Where’s the rest of my paycheck?’)
Give the UFC credit, they can spot a nascent, kind-of-but-not-really grudge match in the making a mile away. MMA Madness reports that Matt Hamill will meet Brandon Vera at UFC 101 in Philadelphia to see who has the chops to make it in the light heavyweight division and who will end up on the receiving end of an assholish celebration.
As you probably recall, Hamill head-kicked Vera’s friend and training partner, Mark Munoz, into a briefly frightening unconscious state, then paraded around the Octagon like he’d just hit a walk-off homerun in the last World Series game ever. Hamill would later explain the celebration by pointing out that a) he’s deaf, so vibrations from an excited crowd get him really pumped, and b) he doesn’t head kick that many people, and this one was pretty sweet.
Vera said he completely understood the celebration and even defended it while still acknowledging that he was pissed off about seeing Hamill taking victory laps while his friend was getting fitted for a neck brace. Now it looks like “The Truth” will get his chance to exact some measure of revenge, while also getting another opportunity to prove that he’s no longer the overpaid, underperforming disappointment he had become.
Honestly, this fight makes good sense. Not only is there a little bit of a personal storyline here (okay, a very little bit), it’s also a good eliminator match to see who might really have the potential to climb the ranks at 205 and who’s just a gatekeeper.
As much as Hamill likes to fancy himself a striker these days, he had better rediscover his roots as a wrestler against Vera. After seeing Vera absolutely punish Mike Patt with leg kicks, it doesn’t seem like a good idea for Hamill to try and win this on his kickboxing skills alone.
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Comments
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:26
Should be a decent fight, both guys are looking good off the last fight and you can't pass up a Hamill post-fight interview
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:31
Ver is a douche, go Hamill
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:32
I LIKE THIS ONE
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:33
The vibrations in his leg when vera nails him in the thigh should get him mighty excited too...
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:33
Matt Hamill did not celebrate like an asshole. His parading around was a sign language dance to all his peeps.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:38
This one is an easy pick. Hamil and Vera are both dicks, but Vera can hear. Therefore, Vera must die.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:39
Matt Hamill says "What? I didn't hear that last thing you said." Just kiddin Matty boy. Matt beats Vera in the second by severe beating to the ears....
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:39
I'm rooting for Hamill, but I think Vera's gonna win this bc he's the better striker and I think Hamill's gonna be too stubborn to take it to the ground.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:49
Hamill's striking style may prove to be too slow to catch Vera with a big punch. I agree with CP, take it to the ground Hammer, there is where you'll find the donuts.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:53
I haven't seen someone that excited from vibrations since that high school cheerleader in Backdoor Sluts 9.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:56
Hamill better not lose or his trainer is gonna throw him under the bus. Again.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 10:59
I hope Hamill comes out to Good Vibrations by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:15
As much as I would love to see Hamil 'hammer' down Vera, 'truthfully' I am going to have to give this match to Brandon. ...See what I did there?
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:17
From now on whenever Hamill calls Vera "the Trufe" we all have to take a shot!
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:19
i didn't think the Hamill-Munoz celebration was asshole-ish. At least he didn't pretend to dig a grave with an invisible shovel and drag him over to it and bury him like his partner/douche Tito
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:23
I think Matt Hamill should come out to complete silence.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:25
('Okay, quit messing around now. Where's the rest of my paycheck?') WINNN!!!1 lmao!
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:26
whooot? Didn't realize they where in the same wheight class. Vera's gotta be twice as fast!
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:29
If Hammill takes it to the ground he'll win via decision, if he stands with Vera I think Vera will take a decision.. I think the only thing that will finish the fight are Veras kicks, and if he watches fights he should take a note from Rich Franklins book on beating Hammill.. kicks to the body.. Hammills way of covering up leaves his body extremely exposed.. watch his fights.. he picks both hands way up to cover his head..
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:37
oh and theres nothing wrong with celebrating, but not checking on your opponent after a neck/face breaking headkick like that is like manny gamburyan using the handshake to set up a kick!
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:46
Molly Shannon approves.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 11:55
Vera is going to verbally tap in the 3rd round from ground and pound.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:02
@Ethan: I'm pretty there is a photo of Hamill looking over the shoulders of the event staff to check up on Munoz.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:07
@Your Fucking Father: ahh if there is I apologize, i watched the fight but I did not pay much attention to the post fight stuff.. So if there was a moment where he checked in on Munoz then my bad, i missed it I cant watch his post fight babble.. i dont have a problem with Hammill i just dont like the headache of interpreting him
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:08
Good match up. Likely a win for Vera by decision, not sure on majority or unanimous. If Hammill is TKO'd it's going to be in the second round when Vera gains rhythm (which is an addition reason for Hammill to push the pace effectively in round 1).
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:13
They better start calling Hamill the "Deaf Dentist" because he's going to pound out "Da Toof".
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:31
Vera via straight punches leading to a Matt Hamill leaning into yet another awesome headkick. If you watch the fight against Munoz, Hamill was fighting with a very dumb plan. Stalking munoz with no angles, no backward movement, no head movement. I think Matt is setting himself up to get beat on for 3 straight rounds(unless he remembers he is a wrestler).
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:31
I love Brandon Vera's large penis. Im not against blowing a deaf guy either though.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 12:48
I totally called this fight in the comments section of the "Vera defends Hamill celebration" article. Joe Silva owes me money!!
Mon, 03/30/09 - 01:00
I really like Hamill, and I always root for the underdog, but I'm afraid we'll get to see him lose like a pro, with class. I'll always be a fan of both guys, But I see Vera making a statement in this fight. He looks awesome at this weight.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 01:16
am i the only one who thinks hamil will take this one easily?
Mon, 03/30/09 - 01:34
I think this is a bad match-up for Hamill. I think Vera has the length to just tee-off with the kicks, and Hamill's grab-their-head-with-one-hand-and-bash-it-in-with-the-other clinch won't work well against Vera. Hamill can take it to the ground at will, but I think Vera's years with Lloyd Irvin (not to mention Dean Lister) have more than prepared him to submit Hamill. I just don't see where Hamill wins this. Especially considering Vera probably has the better gas tank, and Hamill refuses to have any sort of stand-up defense.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 01:57
This one is a very interesting match up. I like both Brandon and Matt but, I think Brandon takes this one. He's focused and looking to shut up critics. (Real critics not us Cage Tatters.) lol PLUS-Brandon Vera was very cool to me and my girl when we meet him here in Richmond, VA at a local MMA show.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 02:21
@boober I agree that Hammill will easily beat Vera. Vera has not looked sharp lately as either a heavyweight or light heavyweight. Vera won his last fight, but against questionable competition. Besides, the fact that Hammill has accomplished so much despite his disability is amazing. BTW, Hammill beat Bisping. That decision was a joke.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 02:28
haha i mistaken Philadelphia for philippines
Mon, 03/30/09 - 02:34
k Says: Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:53 I haven't seen someone that excited from vibrations since that high school cheerleader in Backdoor Sluts 9. ------------ NOT BACKDOOR SLUTS 9!!! Thats the most hardcore porno ever made!!!!! lol
Mon, 03/30/09 - 02:55
I hope Vera knocks him our cold and dances of his lifeless body.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 03:46
I am sympathetic to Hamill's plight, but his wrestling skills will be useless in this bout because Vera is an excellent Greco wrestler. BV never really utilizes those skill sets, and too many "fans" no nothing about his background. BV will win every time.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 03:50
I hate listening to Hammill grunt the phrase "gwound uhnd pouwnd" in the pre fight videos. So I hope he talks up his striking skills. Who's with me?
Mon, 03/30/09 - 05:37
Cant wait to see Veras worthless ass kicked by bad ass Hamill. Go get em Hammer!!!!
Mon, 03/30/09 - 06:38
I can't see this match going much different than Hamill vs Franklin.
Mon, 03/30/09 - 09:48
Vera is no Franklin. Vera will never finish someone with a liver kick. I think both of these guys are 2nd tier in what might end up being the toughest most competitive division we'll see in MMA for the next 20 years. If I have to pick I'll say Hamill but who knows? It's not like Hamill is really that much better.
Tue, 03/31/09 - 05:46
Brandon is like Chuck in the sense that primarily, they are both wrestlers (experienced and good at it i might add) but they use that skill set to defend against take downs, and use their striking as their primary mode of offense. Mark is a good wrestler, but i think Brandon is good enough to keep the fight standing. and we know what happens when one stands up with Brandon.
Tue, 03/31/09 - 05:52
vera knocked frank mir out! the 2 year lay off got him out of the rythm but i think he's back
Tue, 03/31/09 - 02:45
Don't forget the trends kids.... a few months ago we wanted Vera out of the UFC because he put on horrible shows. Hammill lost to Franklin... That is not a slouch fight. He never fights with his greatest strength (wrestling). He stands and has a simple striking game. I doubt Vera does anything in this fight.
Wed, 06/29/11 - 05:33
[...] Matt Hamill and Brandon Vera Will See Who Gets to Celebrate Like a(‘Okay, quit messing around now. Where’s the rest of my paycheck?’) Give the UFC credit, they can spot a nascent, kind-of-but-not-really grudge … Give the UFC credit, they can spot a nascent, kind-of-but-not-really grudge match in the making a mile away. [...]
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