Duke Rufus, founding father of Milwaukee’s Rufusport MMA Academy and one of the vital revered coaches in combined martial arts historical past, handed away in his sleep on October 17, 2025. He handed away on the age of 55.
Rufus’ enterprise associate of 29 years, Scott Joffe, introduced his demise by way of a press release posted on social media on Friday. The reason for demise has not been disclosed.
“Duke was greater than only a famend coach and champion kickboxer; he was a mentor, innovator, father, and buddy whose affect modified the world of combined martial arts,” Joffe wrote. “His information, charisma, and keenness impressed numerous fighters to achieve heights they by no means imagined. From world champions to first-day college students, everybody who crossed his path felt his real care and unwavering perception of their potential.”
A kickboxing profession constructed on household heritage
Jeffrey Ryan “Duke” Rufus was born on February 19, 1970, the youthful brother of kickboxing legend Rick “The Jet” Rufus. Each brothers skilled below their father Patrick from an early age, with Duke starting his martial arts coaching on the age of 4.
Rufus adopted his brother into skilled kickboxing within the early Nineteen Nineties, competing at tremendous heavyweight. He had a file of 36 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw, with 26 wins by KO. All through his profession, Rufus held a number of world titles in a number of organizations, together with the WKA North American Tremendous Heavyweight Championship, WAKO World Tremendous Heavyweight Championship, WKBA World Tremendous Heavyweight Championship, and KICK World Tremendous Heavyweight Championship.
His most vital achievement was successful the IKF Professional Muay Thai Guidelines Tremendous Heavyweight World Title on December 4, 1998, defeating Hiriwa Terangi of New Zealand by unanimous choice in Milwaukee. In his solely title protection on March 19, 1999, Rufus knocked out Australian WKA World Champion Grant Barker simply 39 seconds into the primary spherical with a sequence of blows, together with a ultimate excessive head kick.
Rufus tried to return to compete within the Ok-1 USA Event in 2001 and 2002, however misplaced in top-level worldwide competitors. After two extra wins in 2005 and 2007, he retired from competitors after a victory over Lawson Baker in 2008.
Develop Rufsport right into a combined martial arts powerhouse
Rufus based Rufusport in 1993 within the basement of his father’s Milwaukee Martial Arts Faculty. The gymnasium operated as a modest coaching facility for a number of years earlier than rising as one in every of North America’s premier MMA academies.
Together with enterprise companions Scott Joff and later Anthony Pettis, Rufus constructed Rufusport right into a coaching floor that produced a number of world champions. The power focuses on educating placing, kickboxing and Muay Thai, areas wherein Rufus has developed experience.
The gymnasium’s popularity grew because of the success of its fighters. The Rufsport graduate has gained titles in a number of organizations and established Milwaukee as an surprising residence for elite MMA coaching.
Pettis brothers and father
Rufus’ relationship with Anthony and Sergio Pettis was a defining chapter in his teaching profession. Anthony Pettis started coaching at Rufusport in 2007, and Rufus rapidly grew to become greater than a coach to the fighter who had misplaced his father.
After Rufus’ demise, Anthony Pettis wrote on Instagram: “When my father was killed, you took me in and have become my father.” “Collectively we made the unimaginable attainable and rose to the highest. I’ll all the time be pleased with you. You’ve gotten taught me a lot and I’ll guarantee your legacy continues.”
Beneath Rufus’ tutelage, Anthony Pettis grew to become the final WEC light-weight champion in December 2010 when he landed the well-known “Showtime Kick” off the cage wall. Pettis then gained the UFC light-weight title by submitting Benson Henderson in Milwaukee in August 2013 with Rufus in his nook.
Sergio Pettis started coaching with Rufus on the age of 13 and went on to turn out to be the Bellator bantamweight champion. Simply two weeks earlier than Rufus’ demise, at PFL Champions Collection 3 in Dubai, Sergio was cornered by Rufus and scored a knockout victory with a spinning again elbow.
“You’ve gotten been my coach since I used to be 13 and have been in my nook for each recreation since I used to be 14,” Sergio wrote after Rufus’ demise. “Thanks for serving to me consider in myself and thanks for all you’ve gotten completed for the Pettis household. You’ll by no means be forgotten.”
Champion Maker: Elite Roster Coaching
Along with the Pettis brothers, Rufus skilled a roster of fighters who achieved championship standing in a number of organizations. 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestler Ben Askren moved to Milwaukee in 2011 to coach full-time with Rufus, transitioning from wrestling to combined martial arts. Beneath Rufus’ tutelage, Askren grew to become the Bellator Welterweight Champion and later the ONE Championship Welterweight Champion.
“Final night time I heard the horrible information that my longtime combined martial arts coach has handed away,” Askren wrote on Instagram. “He welcomed me with open arms. I’ve seen him do this for a lot of others through the years, however he was really particular in that regard. Duke has constructed an ideal tradition that has allowed so many individuals to thrive. He was really a pioneer in MMA and will likely be missed.”
Together with Askren, Tyron Woodley, a former collegiate wrestler on the College of Missouri, skilled at Roofsport throughout camp main as much as the massive match. Woodley credited the gymnasium’s tradition and training for making MMA “enjoyable once more” and serving to him develop placing expertise to enhance his wrestling fundamentals. He went on to win the UFC Welterweight Championship.
Belal Muhammad, who just lately held the UFC welterweight title, honed his placing below Rufus in Rufusport. Former UFC ladies’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas additionally hung out coaching on the Milwaukee facility early in her profession.
Different notable fighters who’ve labored with Rufus embrace former UFC light-weight champion Jens Pulver, Final Fighter Season 1 standout Stephen Bonner, and UFC veterans comparable to Ben Rothwell, Matt Mitrione, Eric Koch, Pat Barry, Paul Felder, Macy Barber, and Alan Belcher.
Crossing the boundaries of martial arts
Rufus’ affect prolonged past the normal MMA world. When WWE famous person CM Punk determined to maneuver to the UFC in 2014, he relocated from Chicago to Milwaukee to coach at Roofsport. Punk spent months working with Rufus and his crew to arrange for 2 UFC bouts in 2016 and 2018.
After studying of Rufus’ demise, CM Punk posted on Instagram, “Waking up in Japan and attempting to course of the information. It is going to take a while.” “Coach, you have made me a greater individual.”
WWE star Aleister Black additionally skilled at Roofsport throughout his pursuit of MMA. The gymnasium welcomes fighters from quite a lot of backgrounds and, as his teammates describe it, has created a family-like atmosphere the place completely different talent ranges prepare collectively.
The way forward for Rufusport and the legacy of Rufus
In a press release saying Rufus’ demise, Mr. Joffe pledged to proceed working the gymnasium. “Whereas we’re deeply saddened, the Rufsport MMA Academy continues to maneuver ahead, pushed by Duke’s enduring philosophy and dedication to excellence,” Joffe wrote. “The tradition he constructed, rooted in respect, laborious work and household, will dwell on via the gamers, coaches and college students who proudly carry his torch.”
Rufus is credited with turning Milwaukee into an MMA vacation spot and setting the usual for Muay Thai teaching in America. His emphasis on technical placing, mixed together with his capacity to develop a fighter’s psychological strategy to competitors, influenced teaching methodologies throughout the game.
UFC commentator Paul Felder, who skilled below Rufus, paid tribute throughout a UFC Vancouver broadcast shortly after the information broke. Via tears, Felder described Rufus as a father determine who gave her profession route and goal.
UFC President Dana White posted a photograph with Rufus and easily captioned it, “Relaxation In Peace.” Tributes have poured in from throughout the martial arts group, reflecting the breadth of Rufus’ affect over almost 30 years of teaching.
Rufus ranks as one of the vital profitable MMA coaches in historical past, with quite a few world champions below one head coach and from one gymnasium. 4 UFC champions, Anthony Pettis, Tyron Woodley, Belal Muhammad and Rose Namajunas, honed their expertise below the tutelage of Rufsport.
Rufus is survived by his brother Rick and the massive Rufusport household he inbuilt Milwaukee over 29 years. Memorial preparations haven’t been introduced.
