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Roufusport

Roufusport
Est.2006; 19 years ago (2006)
Founded byDuke Roufus
Primary ownersDuke Roufus
Scott Joffe
Anthony Pettis[1]
Primary trainersDuke Roufus
Scott Cushman
Current titleholdersBelal Muhammad
Past titleholdersAnthony Pettis
Tyron Woodley
Jens Pulver
Rose Namajunas
Ben Askren
Sergio Pettis
Training facilitiesMilwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Websiteroufusport.com

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 current UFC champion Belal Muhammad, former UFC champions, Anthony Pettis (former UFC Lightweight Champion)[4][5] and Tyron Woodley (former UFC Welterweight Champion).[6][7]

Background

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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. Three of its fighters have gone onto to win UFC champions while training with Roufusport. They are Belal Muhammad, Anthony Pettis[4][5] and Tyron Woodley.[6][7]

Controversy over the death of Dennis Munson Jr.

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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]

Notable fighters

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Anthony Pettis Becomes Co-Owner of Roufusport in Wisconson | MMAWeekly.com". November 5, 2012.
  2. ^ a b CNN; Sports, Yahoo!; Sports, F. O. X.; StarSports, ESPN; Times, Tokyo; Authorities, Many Other Leading; planet, Evolve MMA aims to deliver the best martial arts instruction available anywhere on the (March 13, 2016). "Gyms Around The World: Roufusport Mixed Martial Arts Academy - Evolve Daily". Evolve MMA Singapore. Retrieved January 23, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b "Top 10 Best MMA Gyms in 2019 for MMA training". sportskeeda. September 19, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Roufusport: Home of Champions". MyMMANews.com. July 13, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Fight Path: WEC's Anthony Pettis found MMA after father's tragic death | MMAjunkie.com". October 14, 2012. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Woodley: Lawler is not the boogeyman". ABC News.
  7. ^ a b c Al-Shatti, Shaun (November 3, 2016). "Woodley changes tune after training with Northcutt". MMA Fighting.
  8. ^ a b c John Diedrich. "Death in the Ring - Watchdog Report - Milwaukee kickboxer Dennis Munson Jr.'s death follows cascade of errors by fight officials". jsonline.com.
  9. ^ Williams, Mark S. "District Attorney letter on death of Dennis Munson Jr". Retrieved January 26, 2021 – via documentcloud.org.
  10. ^ "Report: Kickboxer Died After Bout Due To Cheap Promoter, Inept Doctors". Deadspin. November 17, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Video: Experts Weigh In on Death of Amateur Kickboxer". mmaweekly.com. November 17, 2014.
  12. ^ Alexander, Mookie (November 17, 2014). "Ex-Roufusport members lash out at Duke Roufus". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Diedrich, John. "Lawsuit filed against Roufusport in death of Milwaukee kickboxer Dennis Munson Jr". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Diedrich, John. "Dennis Munson died in an amateur kickboxing bout in Milwaukee six years ago. Now his family lawsuit is settled". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "Rose Namajunas: To survive is to find meaning in the suffering - The Underground : The Underground". www.mixedmartialarts.com. February 10, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  16. ^ Curran, Jorden (September 26, 2013). "The exciting impact and future of Roufusport". MMA Plus. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  17. ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator Champ Askren Milwaukee-Bound, Set to Join Roufusport Camp". Sherdog. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  18. ^ "Sergio Pettis - Official UFC® Fighter Profile". March 23, 2014. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "Trainer Duke Roufus wants all focus on UFC 115's Pat Barry". MMA Junkie. June 10, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  20. ^ FightBookMMA (July 7, 2020). "Dustin Ortiz latest top name to sign on for BRAVE CF's Flyweight division | FightBookMMA". Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "Skidding Ben Rothwell reunites with Roufusport ahead of UFC on ESPN 7". MMA Junkie. August 20, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Youngs, José. "Former UFC middleweight Alan Belcher: "I'm done fighting. I don't want to get hit anymore."". The MMA Corner. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  23. ^ Seyler, Todd. "UFC HWs Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione: A Hypothetical Matchup Between Teammates". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  24. ^ Alexander, Mookie (June 17, 2013). "Report: Krauss/Lim set for UFC 164". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  25. ^ Hiergesell, Dan (October 22, 2016). "Video: Tyron Woodley spars with Sage Northcutt, says 'Super' a better version of Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson". MMAmania.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "Paul Felder vs. Dan Hooker Headlines UFC Fight Night Auckland In February". Combat Insiders. November 28, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  27. ^ Murray, Doug (November 17, 2020). "UFC: Sean Brady out, Belal Muhammad Now Faces Dhiego Lima Dec. 19". Cageside Press. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  28. ^ Anderson, Jay (July 27, 2019). "UFC 240's Erik Koch Done With Weight Cuts, Depleting Brain". Cageside Press. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  29. ^ Raimondi, Marc (December 31, 2014). "Dana White: CM Punk will train at Roufusport". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  30. ^ "Fight Path: Backed by Roufusport, Emmanuel Sanchez jumped at Pat Curran fight". MMA Junkie. June 25, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  31. ^ ""Smilin'N" Sam Alvey Faces Gerald Meerschaert In Rematch". MyMMANews.com. May 20, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  32. ^ Lynch, Michael (March 8, 2020). "Mike "Biggie" Rhodes On Refereeing In MMA - MMA Sucka". Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  33. ^ Raimondi, Marc (May 3, 2018). "'Rejuvenated' Sarah Kaufman believes Invicta title is step toward proving she's top women's bantamweight". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  34. ^ "TUF 26 Finale's Ryan Janes talks training at Roufusport ahead of Andrew Sanchez matchup". FanSided. November 28, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  35. ^ Tierney, Tom (March 12, 2019). "John Makdessi continues to evolve at Roufusport; ready for Nasrat Haqparast at UFC Nashville". thebodylockmma.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  36. ^ Straus, Mike (December 10, 2018). "UFC Milwaukee: For Roufusport's Jared Gordon, Giving Back Is Key To Sobriety". Cageside Press. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  37. ^ Altatis, Conan (March 1, 2020). "Roufusport's Jordan Griffin earns 1st UFC win, knocks out TJ Brown at 'UFC Fight Night 169' in Norfolk, Virginia". CONAN Daily. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  38. ^ "Rising UFC star Maycee Barber finds friend, mentor in Ben Askren". ESPN.com. October 22, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "Brendan Allen is the fighter to watch at UFC Norfolk". FanSided. February 26, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
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