Matt Hughes has left Miletich Fighting Systems - Confirmed

From MMA Weekly and from the mouth of Pat Miletich:

Former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes has left Miletich Fighting Systems, the team that helped develop him into a champion and the fighter he is today. The most dominant welterweight in UFC history plans on starting a gym in southern Illinois that would be closer to his home.

“From what Matt told me, he was offered a good financial deal to do it,” revealed Pat Miletich. “Also, he’s away from his family a lot so he wanted to be closer to Hillsborough, Ill., which is close to St. Louis [where the new gym is expected to be located].

“MAINE-IAC” BACK IN THE GYM

Tim Sylvia is back in the gym in preparation for his upcoming fight against Brandon Vera at UFC 77.

“Tim’s back in training and he’s starting to look pretty good already. He’s getting back into the groove,” said Miletich. “He’s doing it smart; he’s sliding back into it. Gradually build himself up and not overdoing it too early.”

After losing his heavyweight title to Randy Couture at UFC 68, Sylvia revealed that he suffered from a back injury a few months prior to his fight. Tim had surgery back in May to alleviate his discomfort.

“I had three bulged discs. It was pinching my sciatic nerve. What they did is they made a 4-inch incision on my spine, went in and moved the nerves aside and cut the bulges off that were hindering the sciatic nerve,” explained the former champion. “I feel great. I have lots of feeling in my left foot. The tingling down my leg, the huge pain in my buttocks and hamstring are no longer there.”

“His back is doing great,” added Miletich. “It’s nice to see him not in pain. It’s really nice to see him being able to move. When Tim’s healthy … can twist his body, move his feet, and do the things he wants to do, he hits very hard.

“Tim understands how tough Vera is and how hard he’s going to have to work to beat him. Every fight is a tough fight. Vera is a skilled kid. He’s got a unique style and he’s pretty versatile.”