Duke Roufus, Legendary MMA Trainer, Passes Away
The mixed martial arts (MMA) world mourns the loss of Duke Roufus, renowned coach and former kickboxer, who passed away at the age of 55. Roufus, founder of Roufusport in Milwaukee, left an indelible legacy in the sport. His passing, which occurred on Thursday while he was sleeping, was confirmed by Scott Joffe, a long-time friend and business partner of Roufus. Roufus was widely known in the MMA community for his successful career as the head coach of multiple world champions.- Anthony Pettis
- Sergio Pettis
- Tyron Woodley
- Ben Askren
Roufus’ relationship with the Pettis brothers was a crucial chapter in his career. Anthony Pettis, former UFC lightweight champion, shared his feelings on Instagram after the death of his coach.Before his outstanding career as a coach, Roufus earned multiple titles in kickboxing, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Rick Roufus. His talent led him to win championships 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 Roufusport MMA Academy, passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Joffe wrote on Facebook. “Duke was more than a celebrated coach and kickboxing champion: he was a mentor, innovator, father, and friend whose influence transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts.”
Scott Joffe
