When news broke that Duke Roufus, one of the most respected minds in mixed martial arts, had passed away at just 55 years old, the MMA community was left in shock. The man whose teachings had shaped champions like Anthony Pettis, Ben Askren, and Tyron Woodley was gone, and the announcement came from his longtime business partner and friend, Scott Joffe, who shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook on Friday.

The message Joffe read, “Duke was more than a celebrated trainer and champion kickboxer—he was a mentor, innovator, father and friend whose influence transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts.” Those words struck the MMA world like a gut punch. The man who spent decades building others up, teaching discipline, precision, and confidence from his base in Milwaukee, was now suddenly gone.

All we know about legendary coach Duke Roufus’s tragic demise

As of now, Roufus’s cause of death has not been publicly revealed. The statement simply read, “Today, the Roufusport family and martial arts world was stunned by the heartbreaking news that Duke Roufus, world-renowned top MMA coach, founder, and namesake of Roufusport MMA Academy, passed away peacefully in his sleep.”

Known for his passion and high standards, Jeffrey Ryan ‘Duke’ Roufus had built his reputation as one of North America’s premier striking coaches, a bridge between the old world of kickboxing and the new frontier of MMA.

His journey began long before the UFC became mainstream. Born in 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Roufus grew up alongside his brother, Rick ‘The Jet’ Roufus, another legend of the sport. Together, they became trailblazers in American kickboxing, capturing world titles in the WKA, WAKO, WKBA, and IKF organizations.

By the time Duke Roufus retired from competition in 2008, he had already begun the second chapter of his career, building Roufusport MMA Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a facility that would go on to shape some of the sport’s brightest stars. He guided Anthony Pettis to UFC gold, helped Ben Askren rise to world champion status, and played a pivotal role in the careers of Sergio Pettis, Paul Felder, Tyron Woodley, Rose Namajunas, and many others. Even CM Punk, the former WWE star who made the leap into MMA, trusted Roufus to lead his transformation.

Scott Joffe’s post summed it up best with, “The culture he built—rooted in respect, hard work, and family—will live on through the fighters, coaches, and students who proudly carry his torch. His impact will echo in every strike, every lesson, and every victory that bears the Roufusport name.”

Anthony Pettis and the MMA world show their respect for Roufus’s “legacy”

For many fighters, Duke Roufus wasn’t just a coach; he was family. No one captured that sentiment more powerfully than Anthony Pettis, the man whose career he helped mold from day one. In an emotional Instagram post, Pettis wrote, “When my dad was k**ed you took me in and became my father. Together we did the impossible and made it to the top! I will always make you proud. You’ve taught me so much. I will make sure your legacy continues on.”

It was a raw, heartfelt message that perfectly reflected Roufus’s impact, not just on fighting careers, but on lives. Pettis wasn’t the only one to share his grief. Fighters across generations and organizations paid tribute.

Veteran Josh Thomson shared on X, “We lost a legendary coach tonight. You will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to your family and fighters who loved you”, while UFC star Maycee Barber shared, “You touched so many lives and led so many of us in a better direction by being here on earth. You will be missed down here but I know that God has a special place for you up there. Thank you for everything. I know your legacy will live on through all of us.”

And that legacy truly is vast. Over the years, Roufus coached a long list of notable athletes like Ben Rothwell, Jared Gordon, Matt Mitrione, Stephan Bonnar, Emmanuel Sanchez, and mentored countless amateurs who never made headlines but found confidence, community, and purpose through his teachings. His death leaves a hole not just in Roufusport, but in the very spirit of combat sports. Yet his philosophy, one built on respect, hard work, and family, endures in every fighter he trained.