Long before the explosion of specialized MMA gyms across this country there was a racquetball court in Bettendorf, Iowa that made do. It’s still there, and it’s called, somewhat generously, Ultimate Fitness, which by the mid-1990s was really just a beat-up wrestling mat, a single heavy bag, some speed bags, and a weight room. The building sits in a non-descript part of town, across from an Econo Lodge and near a gas station that sells red rubberbaked hot dogs. All around this sad…
The Eagles of Bettendorf: At one time, the Miletich Fighting Systems in eastern Iowa was a fight factory for UFC champions. So what was it about that place?
Long before the explosion of specialized MMA gyms across this country there was a racquetball court in Bettendorf, Iowa that made do. It’s still there, and it’s called, somewhat generously, Ultimate Fitness, which by the mid-1990s was r…