{"id":223193,"date":"2025-10-18T17:15:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T17:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/223193\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T17:15:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T17:15:07","slug":"mma-legend-duke-roufus-dead-at-55","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/223193\/","title":{"rendered":"MMA Legend Duke Roufus Dead at 55"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jeffrey \u201cDuke\u201d Roufus, a former kickboxer and MMA coach to legendary fighters, has passed away at 55. <\/p>\n<p>        Videos by Suggest<\/p>\n<p>Roufus died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, according to business partner Scott Joffe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuke was more than a celebrated trainer and champion kickboxer \u2014 he was a mentor, innovator, father and friend whose influence transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts,\u201d Joffe wrote Friday on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scott.joffe\/posts\/pfbid02XMngyv3HwQDYo3HQdd1DUM3S63GjJ9S2Mc9KEJ95q7NuXTqDHQmgTB5way9P5oH8l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis knowledge, charisma, and passion inspired countless fighters to reach heights they never imagined possible,\u201d Joffe, who was a business partner with Roufus for nearly 30 years, continued. \u201cFrom world champions to first-day students, everyone who crossed his path felt his genuine care and unwavering belief in their potential. His loss leaves an irreplaceable void in the sports and in the hearts of all who knew him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeffrey \u201cDuke\u201d Roufus was a Champion Kickboxer Before Becoming a Top MMA Coach <\/p>\n<p>Roufus began his kickboxing career in the 1990s, compiling a 36-8-1 record and winning eight titles. His final title, the I.K.F. world super heavyweight championship, came in 1998. He won his last fight in 2008, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmafighting.com\/ufc\/450514\/duke-roufus-famed-coach-and-former-kickboxer-dies-at-55-years-old\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">MMA Fighting<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Roufus shifted to coaching and founded the Roufusport MMA Academy. His roster of successful clients includes former UFC champions Anthony Pettis and Ben Askren, as well as WWE star and former MMA fighter CM Punk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen my dad was killed, you took me in and became my father\u2026. Together we did the impossible and made it to the top!\u201d\u00a0Pettis wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DP7tTraDvdF\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">on Instagram<\/a> on Friday. \u201cI will always make you proud. You\u2019ve taught me so much. I will make sure your legacy continues on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"704\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mma-legend-duke-roufus-dead-at-55-training.jpeg\" alt=\"mma-legend-duke-roufus-dead-at-55-training.jpeg\" class=\"wp-image-2900477\"  \/>Anthony Pettis spars with coach Duke Roufus during an open workout for media and fans at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver on August 25, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe measure of a man is not in what he says or does in life, but in what others say of him after he\u2019s gone. Rest in Paradise, my friend,\u201d\u00a0Joffe wrote alongside an Instagram collage on Saturday. \u201cWe accomplished many, many great things together and helped countless people change their lives for the better. As I always told you, thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to be part of your life and accomplishments. We soldier on together with one goal in mind, to continue to bring victory and honor to the Roufus name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Roufus is survived by his wife, Tami, and his daughter, Lula.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jeffrey \u201cDuke\u201d Roufus, a former kickboxer and MMA coach to legendary fighters, has passed away at 55. 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