Miletich confirms Hughes departure

[The Iceman]

Credit To:fightnetwork

You know a sport is maturing when institutions come to an end.

In Iowa, one of the world’s most prolific coaches has bid farewell to one of his star pupils - former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes has amicably split from longtime mentor Pat Miletich to start his own fight team, with plans to open a gym out of his home state of Illinois.

“Matt’s been with me for almost a decade,” said Miletich on Fight Network Radio today. “We’ve had a lot of great years together. This is a natural progression for guys to eventually go out on their own.”

The Hughes Intensive Training (H.I.T.) Squad jettisoned from the 32-year-old’s recent portrayal as a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 6,” which begins airing Sept. 19 on Spike TV. On the series, Hughes enlisted the services of fellow Miletich stablemate Robbie Lawler, longtime boxing coach Matt Pena, and wrestling/conditioning teacher Rob Fiore. Fiore, the Greco-Roman coach for the World Class Athlete Program (Army) from 1996-2002, says the experience motivated the four to collaborate on the new enterprise, with the financial support of Alton, Ill. attorney Jeff Cooper.

The Granite City, Ill. gym will be located approximately 40 minutes from Hughes’ farm, where he lives with his wife and two children. Miletich, for one, is supportive of the move.

“I’m sure he’s had a lot of offers to do something like this and he got one close to home,” said Miletich. “I know it’s been tough on him driving up to Iowa all these years, spending the week up here and going home on weekends year after year.”

Hughes (41-5) first achieved UFC gold with a memorable first-round slam knockout of Carlos Newton (13-12) after the Canadian had wrapped his legs around the Midwesterner in a triangle choke that nearly subdued the thick-necked fighter. Hughes would go on to defend the title five times more.

BJ Penn (11-4-1) choked the belt free of Hughes two years later at UFC 46, but the Div. I college wrestler got the opportunity to earn it back following a title vacancy at Oct. 2004’s UFC 50 against another Canadian in Georges St. Pierre. St. Pierre (14-2) would be the one to supplant the dominant champion last November in a rematch at UFC 65.

The former champion will break in his new facilities with a closed training camp beginning Oct. 1, with plans to open the H.I.T. Squad to the public come Jan. 1.

Longtime training partner Jeremy Horn is expected to join Hughes in preparation for his next UFC title bout against champion Matt Serra (9-4) at UFC 79 on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas, Nev., along with Team Hughes’ members Lawler, “TUF 5” participant Corey Hill, and upstart wrestler Jacob Hey.

Link:http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=4702

[twankydawg]

Hughes needs some different training to become more well rounded if he plans to continue competing at this high of a level. It's going to be interesting to see if they can produce any champions. I never thought much of Lawler but he may be better as a coach.

[Supe]

Originally Posted by twankydawg

Hughes needs some different training to become more well rounded if he plans to continue competing at this high of a level. It's going to be interesting to see if they can produce any champions. I never thought much of Lawler but he may be better as a coach.

I agree. I think Hughes still has it in him to be dominant but he has to evolve his game to keep up. A change like this could be just what he needs or could spell disaster. Only time will tell. I for one think that is a move that he needed to do a few years ago.

[Maniac]

That sig is sweet Iceman

[Daver46]

I just really think that is Hughes loss. Miletich is the man. Hughes should have seen that since Miletich is the man that trained him when he did win & hold the belts. I know he was also there when he lost them. But to much talent in the Miletich camp.

BTW Supe love that sig funny as hell.

[pa99fighter]

Originally Posted by Daver46

I just really think that is Hughes loss. Miletich is the man. Hughes should have seen that since Miletich is the man that trained him when he did win & hold the belts. I know he was also there when he lost them. But to much talent in the Miletich camp.

your 100% on there imo brother

[ArMnHC]

Hughes will not benefit any more from starting his own school. training with some of the same idiots wont do a damn thing. if he wants to improve his whole game he needs to up and go to a better camp like ATT or Extreme Couture...or he's f*cked!

[2mcgrath]

yeah i think he needs to go to another good camp.and start his own after he retires.i agree couture's camp would be a good place for him to go

[pa99fighter]

I know one place he wouldnt where he wouldnt be allowed to go to.
the serra jiu jitsu academy

[sabreclaww]

gotta shout out bullock for saying that matt should leave 2 weeks before it was announced (see the chuck liddell ramblings thread)
LOl....not to swell his head, but right on Bullock, you said it was overdue back then.