Back in 2005, Miletich Fighting Systems was the best and toughest MMA gym in the United States. Some would
even argue it was the best gym and team in the world. It was in that time that Pat Miletich, one of the biggest names in MMA today, took a stable of fighters and turned them into world champions. Jens Pulver, former heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, Spencer Fisher and of course former welterweight champion and now UFC Hall of Fame member, Matt Hughes are just a few of the names that put Pat’s little gym in Bettendorf, Iowa on the map.
Eight years later, one member of MFS that was then a sparring partner for some of those just named will soon get his chance to show that being a member of Miletich Fighting Systems still means you are one of the elite athletes in the sport.
It was this past Wednesday, that Rodrigo “Rod” Montoya received a call from the Bellator Fighting Championships, offering him a three fight contract with the organization. Montoya will make his debut on November 9th on the undercard of that event. For those that don’t recognize the name Bellator, you soon will, as their fights will be televised on the Spike Network in 2013. They are currently on MTV2 and can be streamed on Spike.com.
Originally born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Montoya immigrated with his family as a baby to Los Angeles and then moved to Columbus Junction, Iowa when he was in the fourth grade. He has been wrestling since he was only 5 years old and continued all the way through Columbus Junction High School.
What makes this contract even more significant is that just a few months back, teammate, Sherman Pendergarst, told Montoya that he would be fighting for Bellator soon. Unfortunately, Pendergarst lost a battle with cancer this past July before he could see Montoya make his Bellator debut. Montoya credits Pendergrast, who also fought for Bellator, as being the main reason that he was given this opportunity. “He said to me ‘If we keep doing what we are doing, there is no doubt in my mind that you get in Bellator.” said Montoya.
The call from Bellator comes at a perfect time for MFS, as just last month, the gym was reopened as Core Fitness and not Champions and is under new management giving it the spark and structure that it needed and had been lacking for the past few years. “The trainers we have right now are putting us through workout that we have never done before,” said Montoya. “I feel like someone is behind me now and that’s what’s going to get this gym back on top.” With the fight being nine weeks away, that gives Montoya plenty of time to prepare while also putting all the ups and downs of his career are in the past. “I feel like my career is starting over,” said Montoya. “What happens from here on out, I have control over and is all on me.” And the fact that Montoya is the first member under the “new” MFS banner to be signed to a major organization doesn’t bother him either. “I have so much more motivation,” said Montoya. “Now, I don’t have to fight to get there. I have to prove that I belong there.”
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