![]() | |
Est. | 2006 |
---|---|
Founded by | Duke Roufus |
Primary owners | Duke Roufus Scott Joffe Anthony Pettis [1] |
Primary trainers | Duke Roufus Scott Cushman |
Current titleholders | Sergio Pettis |
Past titleholders | Anthony Pettis Tyron Woodley Jens Pulver Rose Namajunas Ben Askren |
Training facilities | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Website | roufusport |
Roufusport (also known as Roufusport MMA Academy) is a mixed martial arts gym based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Known as one of the top gyms in MMA, [2] [3] it has produced two former UFC champions, Anthony Pettis (former UFC Lightweight Champion) [4] [5] and Tyron Woodley (former UFC Welterweight Champion). [6] [7]
Duke Roufus is a former professional kickboxer who retired in 2002. In 1993 he founded Roufusport in his dad's Milwaukee based martial arts school's basement.
In the years since, Roufusport has managed to persevere, grow and emerge as one of the top MMA gyms in the world [2] [3] that has trained many high level fighters. Two of its fighters have gone onto to win UFC champions while training with Roufusport. They are Anthony Pettis [4] [5] and Tyron Woodley. [6] [7]
On March 28, 2014, Dennis Munson Jr., an amateur kickboxer from Roufus' gym, Roufusport, died after taking part in a bout promoted by Roufus. [8] The bout took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the fighters were not required to wear protective headgear. [8] Munson's recorded cause of death by the Milwaukee County medical examiner was head trauma. [9] Dehydration caused by the fighter cutting weight up to and including the day of the fight, was considered a potential contributing factor. [10]
Munson's two cornermen were his coaches from the Roufusport gym, and as the event promoter, Roufus appointed the ringside doctor, referee and other officials. It was Munson's first fight. [8]
Video footage of the bout circulated widely. It was noted despite Munson showing signs of having difficulty returning to his corner, the staff including the doctor did not engage in administrating medical assistance until it was too late when Munson collapse in the ring. [11] Munson arrived at the hospital where he died a few hours later. After Munson's death, Roufus was publicly criticized by experts in the sport for his promotional practices, and the decisions and actions of the officials and Munson's cornermen at the bout. He was further criticized by several past students and past Roufousport staff for his treatment of students, behavior and management style at Roufusport gym. [12] [11]
In 2017, the family of Dennis Munson Jr filed a lawsuit against Roufusport and several staff that were part of the bout. It alleged those responsible for Munson's safety failed in their duty to protect him during the unregulated bout. [13] The lawsuit was fully settled with all parties in 2020. [14]
Jeffrey Ryan "Duke" Roufus is an American former kickboxer and head coach of the Roufusport based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. He is a well-known striking coach in North America.
Robert Glenn Lawler is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed between 2001 and 2023. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion, former EliteXC Middleweight Champion, and has formerly competed in Strikeforce, PRIDE, and the IFL. Nicknamed "Ruthless", he is known for his aggressive fighting style, and was considered a fan favorite. Three of Lawler's title bouts, against Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald, and Carlos Condit earned numerous awards for the Fight of the Year in their respective years.
Ben Askren is an American former professional mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler.
Jorge Masvidal is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight and Lightweight divisions. Masvidal competed professionally for 20 years from 2003 until 2023, having fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator, Strikeforce, Shark Fights, and World Victory Road. He holds the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history at five seconds, and won the symbolic UFC "BMF" Championship belt.
Tyron Woodley is an American former mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion who defended his title four times. A professional since 2009, Woodley also competed at Strikeforce and was an NCAA Division I collegiate wrestler for the Missouri Tigers, becoming a two-time All-American and Big 12 Conference champion.
Anthony Paul Pettis is an American professional mixed martial artist. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL). He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. Pettis was also the final WEC Lightweight Champion prior to the promotion being merged into the UFC.
Michael Chandler is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2009, Chandler first gained notoriety while competing for Bellator MMA, an organization he competed in from 2010 through 2020. There, Chandler became a three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and was the winner of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. As of July 17, 2023, he is #5 in the UFC lightweight rankings.
Anthony Armand Ferguson Padilla is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion. Ferguson debuted in 2008, and has been with the UFC since he won The Ultimate Fighter 13 in 2011. He is trained in freestyle wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun.
Stephen Thompson is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional kickboxer. Thompson currently competes in the Welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As a full-contact kickboxer, Thompson was undefeated through 37 amateur and 20 professional matches. Thompson is regarded as one of the most accomplished strikers in the UFC. As of October 24, 2023, he is #6 in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Gilbert Burns is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler and 3rd degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt athlete.
Sergio Jerome Pettis is an American mixed martial artist who is currently signed with Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion. Prior to signing with Bellator, Pettis competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought in both the Bantamweight and Flyweight divisions. As of December 8, 2023, he is #10 in the Bellator men's pound-for-pound rankings and is ranked #2 in the Bellator Bantamweight Rankings.
Vicente Luque is a Brazilian and American professional mixed martial artist. Luque currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of December 5, 2023, he is #9 in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Brandon Carrillo Moreno is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion. A professional since 2011, Moreno also competed for the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he was the Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Champion. As of July 11, 2023, he is #1 in the UFC flyweight rankings.
Darren Jake Till is an English professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions, and challenged for the UFC Welterweight Championship in September 2018.
Jared Gordon is an American mixed martial artist. He was the lightweight champion of Duelo De Gigantes in Mexico and featherweight champion for Cage Fury Fighting Championships in the United States. He competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Ricky Glenn is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the UFC. A professional since 2006, he is the former World Series of Fighting Featherweight Champion.
Ricardo Ramos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Jason Strout is an American former kickboxer and boxer from Roufusport competition team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.
UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on June 29, 2019, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Raufeon Stots is an American professional mixed martial artist and graduated collegiate wrestler. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of Bellator MMA, where he is a former Interim Bellator Bantamweight Champion. As a wrestler, he is a two-time NCAA Division II champion. As of December 8, 2023, he is ranked #1 in the Bellator Bantamweight Rankings.
{{cite web}}
: |last1=
has generic name (help)