Veach pictured training with HIT Squad co-owner Matt Hughes

VEACH IN TO FACE GRICE AT UFC FIGHT NIGHT 17
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - by Ken Pishna - MMAWeekly.com (Reporting by Damon Martin)

George Sotiropolous has had to withdraw from his planned bout against Matt Grice at UFC Fight Night 17 next week in Tampa, Fla. Sources close to the bout told MMAWeekly.com that Sotiropolous suffered an undisclosed rib injury, forcing him out of action.

Acting swiftly, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has already lined up Matt Veach - a fighter out of Matt Hughes' HIT Squad Gym - to step in with little more than a week's notice. UFC Fight Night 18 at the Sun Dome is by far the largest stage upon which Veach has ever stepped in his fight career. He does, however, enter the Octagon with an unblemished record of 10-0 as a professional with only one of those bouts going the distance.

Grice is 9-1 as a professional, his only loss coming by way of submission to Terry Etim at UFC 70 in early 2007. His last UFC appearance was a win over Jason Black at UFC 77 in October of 2007. Following that win though the husband and new father decided to forgo another fight in favor of attending the police academy to provide stability and security for his new family, but he's back and ready to fight.

The Cardio Kick Boot Camp Class at the H.I.T. Squad has been a huge success! Sign up today.

Pictured is Cardio Kick Instructor Jennifer McKinney

This class in an hour of fun every Saturday from 9-10 AM! It is a kickboxing aerobics class implementing a variety of exercises including boot camp exercises, body weight exercises, abdominal and glute exercises and of course a lot of punching and kicking. It's never the same, the routine each week changes so you'll never get bored! This class is great for everyone... from the beginner to those who are physically fit (most of the people in class have never done any type of kickboxing before). I can guarantee that when you get done with a class you will feel great and you will not be able to wait for the next class! Spots are still available but going fast.

The cost per class is only $10 or $40 for a 6 week session. Call 618-709-2824 to sign up or for more information.

Pictured is the Cardio Kick Boot Campers at the HIT Squad

Paul McIlroy (Pictured with Robbie Lawler) came to The Hit Squad from Belfast, Ireland to take the 1 month training camp. Below is the unedited account of his experience that he wrote for LAMuscle.com. Paul's story is very interesting:

When is it time to give up on a dream? When is enough, enough? Is it when friends and family tell you that you are too old for one last roll of the dice, that it is unrealistic at "this stage of the game"? I do not know.

Those of you who have read my story in the Bio-article I wrote here on LA Muscle a while a go, will know that I first started boxing in my early teens at the Immaculata A.B.C (located slap bang in the middle of West Belfast's most infamous ghetto, Divis Flats). I will try not to repeat myself too much here, but for those that do not know, my dream as a boy was to become a world champion and take my family away from the war zone, away from hardship. As the years rolled by I pretty much took what talent I had for granted. I'd win a few fights then take a long lay off, I'd repeat this over and over, and when I say long I mean LONG, anywhere between 6 months and 4 years!!

In time the conflict in the north subsided, I did achieve success in changing my family's fortunes, but this came through education and coaching successes. I competed in a variety of different sports racking up a long list of accolades (marathon running, powerlifting, all round weightlifting, cross training, Muay Thai boxing, Fitness/ Physique modeling, track & field), even world titles (natural powerlifting).

Click here to read more...

Dee Jay Fuentes (4-0) defeated James King (6-3) on November 1st to win the South Texas Fighting Championship Budweiser lightweight belt in the main event.

Chris Wing came to the HIT Squad from New Jersey. He trains and is an instructor at his family's gym, Wings Martial Arts, in Trevose, Pennsylvania. Chris came to the HIT Squad to do a two week training camp and mix up his training. Chris is more advanced than most so he did mostly just the pro classes. (The camp is also set up for beginners) His manager emailed us and told us that Chris had kept a journal for New Breed Fighters, an organization that Chris fights for. Here is his journal uncensored and unbiased:

9-20-08
HIT SQUAD DAY 1

So I arrived today at the HIT SQUAD in Granite City Illinois. When I arrived I was confused at first because the gym is on an old army base, and at the gate all you see is a bunch of old buildings. I asked and found out where the gym was, and from the outside it definitely didn't look like there was a gym inside. But I went in to check it out and find out where the dorms were. Well you can't judge a book by its cover because the gym was beautiful. Big, with a nice weight and free weight area which is open to the public, racks of kettle bells, a bag area with Thai bags, headshot and wrecking ball bags, double end and speed bags. There's A LOT of mat space which is separated the entire length with cage wall. The locker rooms are impressive with an ice bath (which I've never seen before), and sauna. Nice pro shop where I'll be tempted to redo my wardrobe with HIT SQUAD and Matt Hughes gear. Out back are a few tires for flipping which looked and felt to weigh about 200-250lbs. and large stones which I was told were for throwing...

(To see the rest of Chris' experience at the HIT Squad camp, go to the link below)

hitsquad.wingsmartialarts.com