Duke Roufus (photo via expressmilwaukee.com)

By FCF Staff

Veteran striking coach and MMA trainer Duke Roufus is defending his techniques, as well as his famous Roufusport camp, after allegations that some of its members have mistreated fighters have surfaced.

Recently, several fighters who have trained at the Milwaukee based gym, have accused some of the gym’s coaches of encouraging training practices that were harmful, both physically and verbally.

The allegations have come out not long after “The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel” ran a story about deceased kickboxer, Dennis Munson Jr., who also trained at the gym. The fighter passed away earlier this year, not long after his first kickboxing match.

In a follow up story from MMA Junkie.com, here is some of what Roufus had to say about the allegations, which have stemmed from fighters like Pat Barry, Rose Namajunas and Eric Schafer.

“You know, when I see Rose and (former UFC fighter) Pat Barry, they don’t seem disgruntled,” Roufus said. “They’re very nice to me. Pat asked me advice at the last Glory (kickboxing) event. Rose came and trained at our gym in spring. Eric Schafer, I know we’ve had some issues. I’ve tried to reach out ever since he left Roufusport, and he didn’t want to ever sit down and chat with me. It’s tough.”

“I think they left in 2010,” Roufus said. “It’s 2014. If you look at the results of what the kids are doing right now, and just the evolution of MMA, things have changed. Back then, I don’t think we embraced strength and conditioning as much. We were trying to spar ourselves into shape. My philosophy now, four short years later, is completely opposite of that.”

Rofusport is home to several well known, MMA fighters, some of which include Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis, Erik Koch, Rick Glenn and Dustin Ortiz among others.