{"id":1102,"date":"2008-06-18T08:46:23","date_gmt":"2008-06-18T08:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/166.62.41.2\/~holaamericanews\/2008\/06\/18\/behind-the-fence-hit-squad-and-matt-pena\/"},"modified":"2016-04-19T15:50:21","modified_gmt":"2016-04-19T15:50:21","slug":"behind-the-fence-hit-squad-and-matt-pena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/holaamericanews.com\/es\/behind-the-fence-hit-squad-and-matt-pena\/","title":{"rendered":"Hola Archives – Behind The Fence: H.I.T. Squad and Matt Pe\u00f1a"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As you grow up, sports are usually a part of your life in some way or shape.\u00a0 Whether you are on the YMCA league playing basketball or playing soccer with your siblings, most families are involved with sports at one point.\u00a0 On the south side of Gaines Street in Davenport, Iowa \u2013 a street known for its high crime rate and violence \u2013 Davenport Boxing Club coached by Alvino Pe\u00f1a, was shaping some of the greatest fighters of their time, such as Michael Nunn and Pat Miletich.\u00a0 Another fighter there was 6 year old Matt Pe\u00f1a.\u00a0 Alvino is his grandfather and like most of his uncles and cousins before him, Matt would be submerged into a world of fighting.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was definitely something that you had to do,\u201d\u00a0 Pe\u00f1a said.\u00a0 \u201cThere were always gloves around and our uncles were the refs.\u00a0 Boxing was a part of who we were.\u00a0 My grandpa would joke around and say he would call our mom or that we wouldn\u2019t get dinner if we didn\u2019t box.\u201d<\/p>

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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.\u00a0 It was there at DBC that he would perfect his style of fighting.\u00a0 \u201cGreat counter punching and fighting is the style that I used myself and am most used to being around,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said. \u201cCounter fighting translates easily into MMA (mixed martial arts) which is nice.\u00a0 You can\u2019t take many hits with 4 oz gloves.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

It was on the TV show \u201cThe Ultimate Fighter\u201d season 6 where the prequel of events to come would start.\u00a0 As Team Hughes fought it out with Team Serra, it was there that Pe\u00f1a met Marc Fiore a former college wrestling buddy of Matt Hughes.\u00a0 Hughes and Fiore went separate ways when Fiore joined the Army who then become Hughes\u2019 head wrestling coach.\u00a0 \u201cFiore would come to a lot of Matt\u2019s fights and help him cut weight and to be a positive presence around,\u201d Pe\u00f1a explained.\u00a0 Robbie Lawler was also on the show with Hughes and Pe\u00f1a.\u00a0\u00a0 It was there the idea of a new gym in Granite City, Ill. would go from a possibility to a certainty.\u00a0 On Saturday, Feb. 9 in Granite City, Ill., H.I.T. Squad (Hughes Intensive Training) would be open for business.<\/p>\n

With an impressive group of owners\/fighters, Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Matt Pe\u00f1a and Marc Fiore opened the doors to H.I.T. Squad Gym.\u00a0\u00a0 When entering the gym, the first thing you notice is that the whole room covered from top to bottom in camouflage netting.\u00a0 With Matt Hughes being an avid outdoorsman and both Matt Pe\u00f1a and Marc Fiore being in the service, camo fit well with the theme of the gym.\u00a0 The entire back half of the gym, 5,000 square feet, is all a wrestling and grappling mat.\u00a0 The mat is surrounded by fencing like that used on the fighting octagon so that moves off the fence can be taught and perfected.\u00a0\u00a0 On the other side of the gym is what Pe\u00f1a is most proud of.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <\/p>

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\u201cAnyone who has gone to my grandpa\u2019s gym knows that we produced many great fighters in a relatively small space,\u201d explained Pe\u00f1a.\u00a0 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. \u201cNot many gyms facilities out there have the 9 time UFC Welterweight Champion teaching the classes,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

There has to be something that Matt Pe\u00f1a has that other trainers don\u2019t, or else he wouldn\u2019t have been asked to be on not only one season of \u201cThe Ultimate Fighter\u201d but be asked back to be the coach of the following season.\u00a0 Having the advantage of training some of the best in the sport, Pe\u00f1a sees himself as still growing and learning every day.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve not stuck with anything. People will figure you out. You have to be dynamic,\u201d Stresses Pe\u00f1a.\u00a0 <\/p>

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Understanding the footwork and angles of the sport along with a natural eye for talent is what Pe\u00f1a excels in.\u00a0 Take for example TUF Season 6 runner up Tommy Speers.\u00a0 Team Hughes knew that Speers would be a good pick because he was a dairy farmer and that translates into a good work ethic.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pe\u00f1a goes on to say that everyone should have at least one good skill set that you dominate in at the UFC.\u00a0 When he saw Tommy throw his right hand, Pe\u00f1a knew he had something to build on.\u00a0 He also commented on up and coming fighter Corey Hill. <\/p>\n

\u201cCorey is an athlete and fast.\u00a0 I told him to use his reach and length but to never change his natural fighting style.\u201d Surrounded by all the hype of the UFC and MMA, it would seem hard to stay grounded in such a crazy environment.\u00a0 Pe\u00f1a stresses on how coming home every weekend to be with his family in Rock Island helps keep him grounded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m kind of religious in that I believe if I\u2019m too cocky or too proud it\u2019s all going to be taken away.\u00a0 I am always giving thanks for everything we are involved with,\u201d Pe\u00f1a stated.\u00a0 <\/p>

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Having been open for only 4 months now, the owners of the H.I.T. Squad are already looking to expand.\u00a0 There have been talks of adding another wing and putting a cage in.\u00a0 There also plans for a H.I.T Squad show premiering in August.\u00a0 \u201cWe want to be our own promotions and marketing team but most importantly invest money in the fights and the fighters,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n

As MMA continues its sweep through the country, H.I.T. Squad gym couldn\u2019t have come at a better time.\u00a0 Along with champion caliber coaches and a superb training site and facility, don\u2019t be surprised if in the near future H.I.T. Squad will be a household name.<\/p>\n

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