Utica’s Matt Hamill, Former UFC Fighter, Added to MMA Card October 14 at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Light Heavyweight bout just announced between Utica’s Matt Hamill and Kansas City’s Julian Marquez
Ringside tickets SOLD OUT!
Tickets starting at $35 are on sale now
Combate Americas, in partnership with Tuff-N-Uff and Turning Stone Resort Casino, announced today that Utica’s Matt Hamill (10-7-0), a former UFC fighter, and Kansas City’s Julian Marquez (3-1-0) will face off in a light heavyweight match-up at one of the first professional mixed martial arts events in New York State. The match-up promises to be electric, as Hamill and Marquez’s distinct fighting styles meet for the first time in the cage October 14 at Turning Stone. The fight marks another exciting addition to “Empire Rising,” which is Combate Americas’ first ever world championship fight card.
Matt Hamill, a former UFC competitor and contestant on Spike TV’s Ultimate Fighter 3, began his career with wrestling, winning three NCAA Division III National Championships for his alma mater, the Rochester Institute of Technology. The UFC’s first ever deaf fighter, Hamill is a large supporter of deaf groups, winning gold and silver in the 1997 Deaflympics for wrestling. Fighting out of Utica, N.Y., Hamill is a local favorite, referring to the people of Utica as family and often attending charity and other public events to mingle with the community.
Fighting out of Kansas City, Julian Marquez is a light heavyweight contender with a history of electric fights. In 2016, two years after going pro, Marquez took on Chris Harris (7-0-0) in an action-packed battle that many called one of the best fights of the year, with credit given to Marquez’s varied style. Coming off a win against Idrees Wasi (1-7-0) in May 2016, Marquez and Hamill’s meeting is sure to be thrilling.
Tickets for “Empire Rising” at Turning Stone are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $65, $50 and $35 and may be subject to additional fees; ringside tickets are sold out. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
A nationally recognized venue for legendary, fight-of-the-year-level boxing events, Turning Stone Resort Casino will now become one of the very first venues in New York to host professional MMA fights. With a legacy of hosting some of the best events in the country, rivaling many venues in major cities such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and New York City, Turning Stone has established Upstate New York as a premier destination for live sporting events. Turning Stone is an award-winning destination resort, offering world-class amenities including four hotels, more than 20 restaurants and dining options, two luxurious spas, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, a cabaret-style Showroom, a 5,000 seat arena, five pristine golf courses, several bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues.
