Matt Hamill, Out of Retirement, Faces Teddy Ash in Unified MMA 33 Headliner in Alberta

In MMA, retirements don’t last forever. Perhaps not even that long, whether it’s your first, or even second. Especially if you’re Matt Hamill.

On Thursday, Alberta-based Canadian promotion Unified MMA announced that its forthcoming bill, Unified 33, would be headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between Canadian puncher Teddy Ash and now-unretired 16-fight Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Matt Hamill. In the co-feature, UFC veteran Shane Campbell defends his promotional lightweight title against Stephen Beaumont.

Unified 33 takes place at River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta, on May 11.

The headlining title contest was put together after Unified’s previous 205-pound champion Jared McComb announced his retirement. Meanwhile, the 41-year-old Hamill exited no less than his second retirement from the action last year, returning to the cage to knock out fellow UFC vet Luiz Cane in just 38 seconds at Fight 2 Night 2 in Brazil. It was the first win for “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 veteran in nearly five years after four straight losses, sandwiched around several proclaimed retirements.

Recently, the Ohio-born Hamill, who now lives and trains out of Utica, N.Y., announced his desire to compete on the forthcoming UFC card in Utica on June 1 at the Adirondack Bank Center, headlined by a bantamweight grudge match between Marlon Moraes and Jimmie Rivera.

Behind me is the Utica Auditorium. UFC is coming on June 1st. Who want to watch me fight in my hometown? Shout out to @danawhite and @mickmaynard2 to make this happen. pic.twitter.com/QoFSKliwJq

— Matt Hamill (@hammer_hamill) February 11, 2018

The 28-year-old Ash has won four in a row, with the last three all coming by way of knockout. He stands 10-3 as a pro.

The British Columbia-based Campbell, 30, went 1-4 during 14 months under UFC employ. Since a three-fight losing streak in the Octagon with losses to James Krause, Erik Koch and Felipe Silva precipitated his release, “Shaolin” has gone 3-0 under the Unified MMA banner, capturing the company’s 155-pound title against Tristan Connelly last June, then choking out Mike Scarcello in his first defense at Unified 32 in September.

Beaumont and Campbell previously met under the Aggression Fighting Championship banner in November 2012, with Campbell securing the first-round choke victory. Since then, “Big Bad” Beaumont has gone 3-1, his lone loss in the span coming to UFC lightweight Jason Saggo.