The mixed martial arts (MMA) world mourns the loss of Duke Roufus, a renowned coach and former kickboxer, who passed away at the age of 55. Roufus, founder of Roufusport in Milwaukee, died in his sleep on Thursday, according to Scott Joffe, a long-time friend and business partner. Roufus was widely recognized in the MMA community as the head coach of multiple former world champions.
A Legacy of Champions
Roufus’s influence on the sport was significant, having coached prominent figures such as Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren.Roufus’s relationship with the Pettis brothers was a defining chapter in his career. Anthony Pettis, former UFC lightweight champion, shared an emotional message on Instagram.Before his successful coaching career, Roufus also made his mark in kickboxing, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Rick Roufus. During his kickboxing career, he won titles in various organizations, including WKA, WAKO, WKBA, KICK, and IKF.“Today, the Roufusport family and the martial arts world were shocked by the heartbreaking news that Duke Roufus, renowned MMA coach, founder and namesake of the Roufusport MMA Academy, passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Joffe wrote on Facebook. “Duke was more than a celebrated kickboxing coach and champion; he was a mentor, innovator, father, and friend whose influence transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts.”
Scott Joffe
