As you grow up, sports are usually a part of your life in some way or shape. Whether you are on the YMCA league playing basketball or playing soccer with your siblings, most families are involved with sports at one point. On the south side of Gaines Street in Davenport, Iowa – a street known for its high crime rate and violence – Davenport Boxing Club coached by Alvino Peña, was shaping some of the greatest fighters of their time, such as Michael Nunn and Pat Miletich. Another fighter there was 6 year old Matt Peña. Alvino is his grandfather and like most of his uncles and cousins before him, Matt would be submerged into a world of fighting.
“It was definitely something that you had to do,” Peña said. “There were always gloves around and our uncles were the refs. Boxing was a part of who we were. My grandpa would joke around and say he would call our mom or that we wouldn’t get dinner if we didn’t box.”
The knowledge and skills he would acquire from fighting would later transcend into coaching as he was a trainer at Davenport Boxing Club with his grandfather Alvino. It was there at DBC that he would perfect his style of fighting. “Great counter punching and fighting is the style that I used myself and am most used to being around,” Peña said. “Counter fighting translates easily into MMA (mixed martial arts) which is nice. You can’t take many hits with 4 oz gloves.”
From there Matt would go on to be the stand up (boxing) coach for Miletich Fighting Systems where he along with Pat Miletich would produce more world champions than any other fighting camp. With fighters like Tim Sylvia, Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Jens Pulver, and Spencer Fisher, MFS would be on top of the UFC league for many years to come.
It was on the TV show “The Ultimate Fighter” season 6 where the prequel of events to come would start. As Team Hughes fought it out with Team Serra, it was there that Peña met Marc Fiore a former college wrestling buddy of Matt Hughes. Hughes and Fiore went separate ways when Fiore joined the Army who then become Hughes’ head wrestling coach. “Fiore would come to a lot of Matt’s fights and help him cut weight and to be a positive presence around,” Peña explained. Robbie Lawler was also on the show with Hughes and Peña. It was there the idea of a new gym in Granite City, Ill. would go from a possibility to a certainty. On Saturday, Feb. 9 in Granite City, Ill., H.I.T. Squad (Hughes Intensive Training) would be open for business.
With an impressive group of owners/fighters, Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Matt Peña and Marc Fiore opened the doors to H.I.T. Squad Gym. When entering the gym, the first thing you notice is that the whole room covered from top to bottom in camouflage netting. With Matt Hughes being an avid outdoorsman and both Matt Peña and Marc Fiore being in the service, camo fit well with the theme of the gym. The entire back half of the gym, 5,000 square feet, is all a wrestling and grappling mat. The mat is surrounded by fencing like that used on the fighting octagon so that moves off the fence can be taught and perfected. On the other side of the gym is what Peña is most proud of. A full size boxing ring stands, as well as many speed bags, punching backs and skill bags along with plenty of room to move around.
“Anyone who has gone to my grandpa’s gym knows that we produced many great fighters in a relatively small space,” explained Peña. What also sets H.I.T. Squad gym apart from other gyms is that Matt Hughes is one of the teachers of the wrestling classes. “Not many gyms facilities out there have the 9 time UFC Welterweight Champion teaching the classes,” Peña said.
There has to be something that Matt Peña has that other trainers don’t, or else he wouldn’t have been asked to be on not only one season of “The Ultimate Fighter” but be asked back to be the coach of the following season. Having the advantage of training some of the best in the sport, Peña sees himself as still growing and learning every day. “I’ve not stuck with anything. People will figure you out. You have to be dynamic,” Stresses Peña.
Understanding the footwork and angles of the sport along with a natural eye for talent is what Peña excels in. Take for example TUF Season 6 runner up Tommy Speers. Team Hughes knew that Speers would be a good pick because he was a dairy farmer and that translates into a good work ethic. Peña goes on to say that everyone should have at least one good skill set that you dominate in at the UFC. When he saw Tommy throw his right hand, Peña knew he had something to build on. He also commented on up and coming fighter Corey Hill.
“Corey is an athlete and fast. I told him to use his reach and length but to never change his natural fighting style.” Surrounded by all the hype of the UFC and MMA, it would seem hard to stay grounded in such a crazy environment. Peña stresses on how coming home every weekend to be with his family in Rock Island helps keep him grounded. “I’m kind of religious in that I believe if I’m too cocky or too proud it’s all going to be taken away. I am always giving thanks for everything we are involved with,” Peña stated.
Having been open for only 4 months now, the owners of the H.I.T. Squad are already looking to expand. There have been talks of adding another wing and putting a cage in. There also plans for a H.I.T Squad show premiering in August. “We want to be our own promotions and marketing team but most importantly invest money in the fights and the fighters,” Peña said.
As MMA continues its sweep through the country, H.I.T. Squad gym couldn’t have come at a better time. Along with champion caliber coaches and a superb training site and facility, don’t be surprised if in the near future H.I.T. Squad will be a household name.
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