Duke Roufus, Kickboxing Legend and MMA Trainer, Passes Away
The mixed martial arts (MMA) world mourns the loss of Duke Roufus, renowned former kickboxer and one of the most respected coaches in the history of this sport. Roufus passed away at the age of 55. The news was confirmed by Scott Joffe, friend and business partner of Roufus, who reported that the coach died in his sleep on Thursday. Roufus, founder of Roufusport in Milwaukee, was known in the MMA community for being the head coach of multiple former world champions.- Anthony Pettis
- Sergio Pettis
- Tyron Woodley
- Ben Askren
Roufus’ relationship with the Pettis brothers was a defining chapter in his career. Anthony, 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. He achieved several titles in organizations such as 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 coach and champion kickboxer: he was a mentor, innovator, father and friend whose influence transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts.”
