UFC 133 got off to a roaring start as Swedish newcomer Alexander Gustafsson battered aging warrior Matt Hamill, forcing a stoppage in the second round. Hamill had accepted the fight on relatively short notice after Vladimir Matyushenko had to withdraw due to an injury. While Gustafsson vs. Matyushenko would have likely been a competitive match that would have pushed the spatial limits of the Wells Fargo Center marquee, the Swede made short work of Hamill, who is one step closer to the end of his fighting career.
Gustafsson was clearly apprehensive about risking too much in the opening round, peppering Hamill with jabs as Hamill looked for a window to make a game-changing takedown. Time ticked away without much damage being sustained, leaving the live commentators to speculate that Hamill may have won the first round in light of Gustafsson’s trepidation. After a quick trip to his corner, Gustafsson came out with furious anger in the second round. Hamill’s lack of stamina was exposed as the 6’1″ Ohio native gasped for air in between attempts at going low. Gustafsson stunned Hamill with a flush right hand and forced the referee to end the bout moments later as he rained elbows down on the former NCAA wrestling champ.
The youthful sport of mixed martial arts is in the process of producing its first wave of aging heroes, many of whom will soon be commentators or hired storytellers. While this is obviously a product of the cycle of life, it remains unusual and a bit saddening to see a once dominant fighter just trying to hang on until the end of a round. Fighters like Hamill, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra are written into the folklore of the sport, but are quickly on their way out in a world dominated by youth.
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