Pettis Leaves Roufusport After Coach's Death
Sergio Pettis has moved his training camps to new gyms in Illinois and Milwaukee following the death of longtime coach Duke Roufus.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
Sergio Pettis has left Roufusport after the death of coach Duke Roufus, who died in his sleep in October 2025 at age 55. Pettis now trains at Valle Flow Striking in Illinois and at Pura Vida and Wanderley Jiu-Jitsu in Milwaukee.
Why it matters
Roufus cornered Pettis from age 14 and was a central figure in his career, so his death and Pettis' departure mark the end of a long coach-fighter partnership. The move also shows how a fighter's training base can change after the loss of a mentor.
Roufus cornered Pettis for a knockout win over Magomed Magomedov in Dubai two weeks before his death, and Pettis wore Roufus' name on his shorts during that fight. Pettis lost to Mitch McKee in April, and the stub does not report the effect of the coach's death on that outcome.
The players
Sergio Pettis
Sergio Pettis is a professional mixed martial artist who has fought in the UFC and PFL and trained for much of his career at Roufusport.
Duke Roufus
Duke Roufus was the founder of Roufusport and a former kickboxing champion who coached Pettis for most of his career.
Joji Goto
Joji Goto is a professional mixed martial artist who is scheduled to face Sergio Pettis at PFL Dubai.
The details
Pettis said going to the gym after Roufus' death 'just didn't feel right,' and he felt the silence of a corner without Roufus was too heavy to bear. He plans to honour Roufus with a statement performance against Joji Goto at PFL Dubai.
Timeline
2003: Pettis lost his father and later first walked into Roufusport at age 13.
October 2025: Duke Roufus died in his sleep at age 55.
April 2026: Pettis lost to Mitch McKee.
November 14, 2026: Pettis faces Joji Goto at PFL Dubai.
Season Trajectory
Pettis' move comes as he prepares for a November 14 bout against Joji Goto at PFL Dubai after a loss to Mitch McKee in April. The training change and the fight's timing shape how his next competitive stretch unfolds.
For fans tracking Pettis, the November 14 bout against Joji Goto is his next scheduled appearance and a chance to see how he performs after the training change. The fight card and his results will matter for anyone following his career arc.
The takeaway
A fighter's training base can be as important as any single bout, and changes after losing a mentor can reshape a career. Pettis' next fight will show how he adapts to his new training setup.
What happens next
Sergio Pettis faces Joji Goto at PFL Dubai on November 14, 2026, his next scheduled competition.
Further reading
For more on fighters' training camps and gym moves, browse Mixed Martial Arts coverage.
