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Roufusport (also known as Roufusport MMA Academy) is a
mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
gym based in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
. Known as one of the top gyms in MMA, it has produced current UFC champion
Belal Muhammad Belal Muhammad (born July 9, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Welterweight Cha ...
, former UFC champions,
Anthony Pettis Anthony Paul Pettis (born January 27, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist, and professional boxer. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ...
(former UFC Lightweight Champion)
Tyron Woodley Tyron Lakent Woodley (born April 7, 1982) is an American professional 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 St ...
(former UFC Welterweight Champion) and
Rose Namajunas Rose Gertrude Namajunas (born June 29, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight ...
(former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion).


Background

Duke Roufus Jeffrey Ryan "Duke" Roufus (born February 19, 1970) is an American former kickboxer and head coach of Roufusport based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. He is a well-known striking coach in North America. Career Duke Roufus started train ...
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 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 Anthony Paul Pettis (born January 27, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist, and professional boxer. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ...
and
Tyron Woodley Tyron Lakent Woodley (born April 7, 1982) is an American professional 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 St ...
.


Controversy over the death of Dennis Munson Jr.

On March 28, 2014, Dennis Munson Jr., an amateur kickboxer from Roufus' gym, Roufusport, died after taking part in a bout promoted by Roufus. The bout took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the fighters were not required to wear protective headgear. Munson's recorded cause of death by the Milwaukee County medical examiner was head trauma. Dehydration caused by the fighter cutting weight up to and including the day of the fight, was considered a potential contributing factor. 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. 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. 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. 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. The lawsuit was fully settled with all parties in 2020.


Notable fighters

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Anthony Pettis Anthony Paul Pettis (born January 27, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist, and professional boxer. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ...
*
Tyron Woodley Tyron Lakent Woodley (born April 7, 1982) is an American professional 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 St ...
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Rose Namajunas Rose Gertrude Namajunas (born June 29, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight ...
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Jens Pulver Jens Johnnie Pulver (born December 6, 1974) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist and undefeated boxer and kickboxer. In 2023, Pulver was inducted into the UFC hall of fame. Pulver was the inaugural UFC Lightweight Champion in ...
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Ben Askren Benjamin Michael Askren (born July 18, 1984) is an American former professional mixed martial artist, professional boxer and Olympic wrestler. He was the former Bellator and ONE Welterweight Champion, remaining undefeated for over a decade ...
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Sergio Pettis Sergio Jerome Pettis (born August 18, 1993) 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 Figh ...
* Pat Barry *
Dustin Ortiz Dustin Ortiz (born December 25, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division and is currently signed to the Brave CF. A professional competitor since 2010, Ortiz has also formerly competed for the UFC, RFA, Ta ...
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Ben Rothwell Ben Rothwell (born October 17, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer who competes as a Heavyweight and is the current BKFC Heavyweight World Champion. He most notably had a 17 bout stint in the Ultimate Fighting C ...
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Alan Belcher Alan Belcher (born April 24, 1984) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and former mixed martial artist. A professional from 2004 until 2015, he is perhaps best known for his 15-fight tenure with the UFC. He currently competes in Bare Knuckle Fig ...
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Matt Mitrione Matt Mitrione (born July 15, 1978) is an American retired mixed martial artist and former American football player, who competed for both the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and most recently for Bellator MMA. Prior to embarking on an MMA c ...
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Pascal Krauss Pascal "Panzer" Krauss (born April 19, 1987) is a retired German mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His German nickname translates to 'tank' in English. Early life and educ ...
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Sage Northcutt Sage Northcutt (March 1, 1996) is an American professional mixed martial artist who is currently competing in the Welterweight division and is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League. He has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Champion ...
* Paul Felder *
Belal Muhammad Belal Muhammad (born July 9, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Welterweight Cha ...
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Erik Koch Erik Jon Koch (born October 4, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist who last competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2007, he formerly competed for the WEC. Background K ...
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CM Punk Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand. Regarded as ...
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Emmanuel Sanchez Emmanuel Sanchez (born August 11, 1990) is an American mixed martial artist currently in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, Sanchez has formerly competed for Bellator MMA, where he was a contender for the Featherwei ...
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Gerald Meerschaert Gerald Edward Meerschaert III (born December 18, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he holds the record for most finishes i ...
* Mike Rhodes *
Sarah Kaufman Sarah Elizabeth Kaufman (born September 20, 1985) is a retired Canadian mixed martial artist (MMA). She competed in the women's bantamweight division where she is a former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion. Kaufman was the inaugural Strikeforc ...
* Ryan Janes *
John Makdessi John Makdessi (born May 3, 1985) is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Makdessi was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 3, ...
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Jared Gordon Jared Gordon (born September 6, 1988) 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 li ...
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Jordan Griffin Jordan Griffin (born February 23, 1990) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Legacy Fig ...
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Maycee Barber Maycee Kaye Barber (born May 18, 1998) is an American mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight (MMA), Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of May 13, 2025, she is #5 in the List of curren ...
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Brendan Allen Brendan Cody Allen (born December 28, 1995) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2015, he has also competed for the ...


See also

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List of professional MMA training camps This is a list of notable present professional training camps and gyms in mixed martial arts (MMA). Most professional MMA fighters in the UFC, Bellator and other MMA promotions join a professional fight camp or training gym to help them prepare f ...


References


External links


Official website
{{MMA Team List Mixed martial arts training facilities Buildings and structures in Milwaukee 2006 establishments in Wisconsin