Duke Roufus, Kickboxing Legend and MMA Trainer, Passes Away
The mixed martial arts (MMA) world mourns the loss of Duke Roufus, former kickboxer and renowned coach, at the age of 55. Roufus, founder of Roufusport in Milwaukee, passed away on Thursday while sleeping, according to his friend and business partner, Scott Joffe. Roufus left an indelible mark on the MMA community, being the head coach of multiple former world champions. Among them are Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren.Roufus’ relationship with the Pettis brothers was a fundamental chapter in his career. Anthony, former UFC lightweight champion, shared his feelings on Instagram.Before dedicating himself to training, Roufus won several kickboxing titles, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Rick Roufus. He won titles in organizations such as WKA, WAKO, WKBA, KICK, and IKF.“Today, the Roufusport family and the martial arts world were shocked by the sad news of the passing of Duke Roufus, renowned MMA coach, founder and namesake of the Roufusport MMA Academy, who passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Joffe wrote on Facebook. “Duke was more than a coach and kickboxing champion; he was a mentor, innovator, father, and friend whose influence transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts.”
Scott Joffe
