6. “The Hammer” (2010)
Mixed martial arts observers know Matt Hamill’s story well. Despite being deaf, the Loveland, Ohio, native won three NCAA wrestling championships at the Rochester Institute of Technology, appeared on Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series and enjoyed a 15-fight stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship that saw him defeat Tito Ortiz, Keith Jardine, Mark Munoz and Tim Boetsch, among others. Helmed by director Oren Kaplan, “The Hammer” checks in at 108 minutes and brings Hamill’s remarkable tale of perseverance to the big screen, with Russell Harvard starring in the lead role. Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin portrays a coach who cut Hamill from the Purdue University wrestling team.
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