UFC color commentator Paul Felder paid a heartfelt tribute to his former coach Duke Roufus, who sadly passed away on Thursday.
Speaking during the broadcast at UFC Vancouver on Saturday night, Felder – who trained under Roufus at his gym Roufusport in Milwaukaee – held back tears as he spoke talked about the special bond he shared with his former mentor.
“Yeah, it really took everybody by surprise, you know?” Felder told his fellow commentators Brendan Fitzgerald and Daniel Cormier. “Duke was an absolute legend when he was a kickboxer and as a coach and as a man, and more importantly, as a father himself. You know he's leaving behind a young girl who loves him more than anything in the world. So we're thinking about the family first, and foremost."
Roufus metored many elite level fighters throughout his career as a coach, including former UFC champions such as Anthony Pettis and Tyron Woodley, as well as former ONE titleholder Ben Askren.
“Duke just he took guys in and became a father figure to so many of us. He was more than just a coach to me, he was more than just a coach to everybody that ever worked with him. And I got to travel the world with that man, and yeah, he's gone way too soon, and we love you, Duke.
“I lived in the gym, literally. And every night ended with a long conversation with Duke, not just about fighting, but about life. So I'll miss those talks, man.”
