Pettis On Leaving Roufusport After Duke's Death
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Sergio Pettis has walked away from Roufusport after the death of Duke Roufus made returning to the Milwaukee facility unbearable.
The former Bellator bantamweight champion opens up about the split ahead of his Nov. 14 fight against Joji Goto at PFL Dubai, per Bloody Elbow and Sherdog. Roufus coached Pettis from age 13 until his death in October 2025 at 55.
🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to PFL Dubai on Ticketmaster →
Why The Bantamweight Walked Away From Milwaukee
Pettis described the emotional toll of walking into Roufusport without his mentor. "Going to the gym just didn't feel right," he told Bloody Elbow. The grief proved too heavy to carry while trying to prepare for fights.
The 31-year-old now bounces between Valle Flow Striking in Illinois and two Milwaukee gyms, Pura Vida and Wanderley Jiu-Jitsu. The change gave him access to fresh coaching voices and sparring partners more aligned with where his career stands now. Pettis has not set foot in Roufusport for months.
🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to PFL Dubai on Ticketmaster →
Roufus cornered Pettis for a knockout over Magomed Magomedov in Dubai last year, then died weeks later. PFL Dubai streams Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on the ESPN app.
Reported via:
- Sherdog — Sergio Pettis explains emotional Roufusport exit following Duke Roufus' death
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