Sam Morris Christian Buserini smiles on his hero, light heavyweight fighter Matt Hamill, after Hamill gave him wrote t-shirts and gloves during open pass for UFC 130 Thursday, May 26, 2011. Both Christians and Hamill was born deaf.Of case Keefer (contact) Friday, may 27, 2011 | 1: 55 a.m. http://www.lasvegassun.com/videos/2011/may/25/5179/Dana White holds his customary "fireside chat" with the media after the press conference of UFC 130 at the MGM Grand. Among the topics touched on white Wednesday was the most recent decision against Chael Sonnen by the California State Athletic Commission, Nick Diaz chances to get to the UFC from Strikeforce and the landscape in the light heavyweight division.12-year-old Christian Buserini impatiently, and no one can blame him.
His hero, Matt Hamill, is a few meters away in a conference room outside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hamill, a UFC light-heavyweight facing Rampage Jackson in UFC 130 main event Saturday, will chat with Buserini as soon as he stops his media obligations.
Buserinis eyes are wide open and he fidgets while anticipating the moment that he is on infinite for the last three days. His father, Michael Buserini, "says Christian has barely slept in this range.
Hamill has a chance to establish himself as one of the best mixed martial artists in the world with a victory over Jackson. Christian Buserini is a passionate young wrestler who would like to become one of the best in Henderson. But they share a defining traits: they are both deaf.
"The tension has a deaf person that is not what he is doing so with the wrestling, to a 12-year-old, it is as if he just met Elvis," Michael Buserini said. "I don't think he will rest for a week now."
Hamill spent more than 10 minutes with Christian communicates through sign language about his upcoming fight and how he hopes to get one of the biggest names in sport.
Christian will be there every step of the way. UFC has released Buserinis tickets for the fight, and access to Friday's weigh-in. It is a dream for a Christian, but Hamill would say it is only to him.
Inspiring members of the deaf community, and in particular children, is what drives the Hamill to compete in the Octagon.
"If I can give them hope, or give them a dream, that is what I live for," said Hamill. "I just want to help in the future. It makes me feel good. It is great motivation ".
Hamill, whose life is the basis for a film entitled "Hamill" released in the autumn, know what inspiration can turn to. It felt not that long ago when he was in the same position as Christians.
When Hamill was in fifth grade, he met Doug Blubaugh-1960 Olympic gold medalist, a deaf wrestler, became a lifelong mentor. Blubaugh, who also spent 11 years as a wrestling coach at Indiana University, was at the Hamills page for many of the highlights during his career.
He worked with Hamill while he was in college and became a three-time Division III national champion at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Blubaugh helped refine the Hamill most recently wrestling leads to a UFC 121 victory against Tito Ortiz last year.
"Doug taught me how to become successful in wrestling," said Hamill. -He was influential in my life and gave me my wrestling skills.
Blubaugh died 10 days ago in Tonkawa, Okla. The 76-year-old died in a motorcycle accident.
"He was legally blind as a child and he never let that stop him in wrestling or whatever, says the Hamills trainer and manager Duff Holmes. -He really had his life and, until 76 years old, he runs around on his motorcycle. He was such a guy. Do guys like a lot. "
Hamill said Blubaugh would be on his mind heading into Saturday's bout. Coach on proud of his prot?g? 's performance.
One could argue Hamill is already the most successful deaf athlete ever. A win over Jackson would only confirm his position among the elite.
Other recent well-known deaf Sports figures include NFL linebacker Kenny Walker and MLB veteran outfielder Curtis Pride, but none of them were ever stars or headliners as Hamill.
-There is no close, especially for Christian, "says Michael Buserini. "He is related to him. Christian play not soccer, he will not be in the NFL, but with wrestling, he joins him. "
Even Jackson, who has said all week that fight not excite him, is impressed with how Hamill has dealt with his disability. Jackson remembered watching the third season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Hamill were on, and is surprised to find out he was deaf.
Jackson said it immediately made him respected Hamill and his opponents deserve "big ups".
"I look at Matt Hamill in the same way that I look at each other," said Jackson. "I get upset when people make deaf joke on my twitter. It is not who I am. I will not see the harm. I will try to beat him like I try to outdo all others. "
Hamill attempted using wrestling techniques he learned from Blubaugh to prevent any chance of that. He will likely push for takedowns, as Christian said was his favorite part of the Hamills games.
About Hamill becomes more powerful with more support from the deaf community as he says, then should Jackson concerned. Recently, said Hamill, he averaged 3,000 pieces of mail per week from fans.
"I cannot agree with them," said Hamill. "The problem is so many different languages. They are in Russian, Swedish, Japanese, Portuguese. I cannot read a them. "
-I get more deaf fans and that gives me more motivation.
Target Keefer can be reached in 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun.com. Follow the case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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