Duke Roufus, the American former kickboxing champion and renowned mixed martial arts (MMA) coach, has died at 55. His business partner Scott Joffe said Roufus “died in his sleep” on Thursday, October 16, with the news announced on Friday, October 17, via Facebook. Roufus founded the Roufusport MMA Academy in Milwaukee after retiring from competition, becoming one of the sport’s most influential striking coaches.
Roufus coached multiple UFC champions and contenders—including Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis, Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren—and drew tributes across MMA following the announcement. Coverage highlighted his decades-long impact as a mentor and gym leader, and his decorated 1990s kickboxing career before moving full-time into coaching in 2008. Reports from mainstream and local outlets corroborated the circumstances of his passing and his status as a central figure in U.S. MMA.
