| In a display of independent-minded spirit and business | | | | Eventually, he plans to pick out the best of the best |
| ambition, mixed martial arts veteran Matt Hughes is | | | | among the fighters who choose to grow stronger |
| venturing forth by himself and planning to form his very | | | | there, and recruit them into the gym's own official fight |
| own fight team. The former UFC welterweight | | | | squad. The squad will be named Team Hughes, |
| champion previously trained with the Miletich Fighting | | | | appropriately enough. |
| Systems group, before making the decision to create | | | | The training center is projected for a January opening |
| his own team. The group's roster will include Jacob | | | | to the public, and it will be managed by Hughes along |
| Hey, an MMA tyro yet also a Greco-Roman wrestling | | | | with a staff of other MMA colleagues. Among these |
| expert; The Ultimate Fighter 5 veteran Corey Hill; and | | | | are Lawler, Marc Fiore, and Hughes' own experienced |
| the contemporary Icon middleweight champion, Robert | | | | boxing coach Matt Pena. H.I.T. is undergoing renovation |
| "Ruthless" Lawler. In addition to his training plans with | | | | in the interim so its owner can begin preparing in |
| these new people, Hughes is also getting ready to | | | | October for UFC 79. Hughes is set to go up against |
| open his own gym in Granite City, Illinois. | | | | currently reigning UFC welterweight champion Matt |
| The place will be named Hughes Intensive Training | | | | Serra on December 29. The funding for the center |
| (H.I.T.), and occupies an area of 13,500 square feet. | | | | comes from Jeff Cooper, an attorney based in St. |
| H.I.T. is intended to be a base for novices to learn the | | | | Louis as well as a sports entrepreneur. Cooper |
| foundations of combat and gradually work their way | | | | approached Hughes with the concept of sponsoring |
| up the ladder, along with longtime fighters who want to | | | | and helping train fellow fighters. |
| continue honing their skills at a new training center. | | | | |