(PRESS RELEASE) -- (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): 2012 has been another banner year of growth and achievement for Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Roufusport, one of MMA’s top gyms. Though the fight team endured injuries, its top fighters went 10-1 during the calendar year.
With 2013 almost upon us, Roufusport looks for the year to end with a bang. Tomorrow, December 29th, at UFC 155 at the MGM in Las Vegas, NV, Alan Belcher will face Yushin Okami on the main card in a rematch, as “The Talent” will look to continue his four-fight win streak while avenging his first UFC loss against Okami in 2006.
January 24th will play host to Bellator 86 and Ben Askren’s Welterweight title defense against Karl Amoussou at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma and shown live on Spike TV. Two days later, three Roufusport fighters will put their skills on display, as Anthony Pettis, Erik Koch and Pascal Krauss battle Donald Cerrone, Ricardo Lamas and Mike Stumpf, respectively, on UFC FOX 6 in Chicago, IL.
“I am extremely proud of our guys, and the way they competed this year,” stated Roufusport Head Coach Duke Roufus. “They've stepped up their training and battled their hearts out in the cage. I can’t wait to see what they do next year.”
“The way our fighters overcame adversity and shined throughout 2012 is nothing short of extraordinary. We've also seen the team grow in size and from a maturity standpoint, as well. More guys are stepping up and taking leadership roles on the team and trying to lead the newer fighters in the right direction, both in the gym and in life. It's great when you have that happening. It's an awesome time to be part of the team,” said Roufusport Co-Owner and General Manager Scott Joffe.
After TKOing Joe Lauzon in dominant fashion at UFC 144 in Japan, Anthony Pettis battled a shoulder injury that kept him out until the end of the year. Now healed and back to training, “Showtime" re-enters the Octagon at UFC on FOX 6 in Chicago to battle Donald Cerrone. With a title shot against current UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson possibly hanging in the balance, this could be the biggest fight of Pettis’ career.
Undefeated Arizona native Ben Askren beat Douglas Lima at Bellator 64 in April, bringing his record to 7-0 in his home promotion. He’ll look to make it eight straight against Amoussou at Bellator 86 in Oklahoma on January 24th.
Erik Koch was scheduled for a UFC Featherweight title shot against current champion Jose Aldo, but both became the victim of an injury bug, and the fight was ultimately scratched. On January 26thin Chicago, Koch will make his return against Ricardo Lamas with another title shot likely on the line.
Alan Belcher returned triumphantly from a career-threatening injury in 2012, besting Brazilian ankle lock specialist Rousimar Palhares via TKO in May on UFC on FOX 3. Now riding a four-fight win streak that includes four stoppages, “The Talent” is ready to explode in 2013. Pascal Krauss, after starting his career 10-0, is looking to rebound, having lost his only fight this year against John Hathaway also on UFC on FOX 3.
Two Roufusport fighters definitely on the rise are Chico Camus and Rick Glenn. Camus went 4-0 in 2012, which included his UFC debut fight. In Denver, CO, at UFC 150 in August, “King” defeated Dustin Pague via unanimous decision. Also undefeated in 2012 was Rick Glenn, as he won all three of his fights via TKO, and has more than a few multi-fight offers from various organizations coming his way entering 2013.
In short, it was another huge year for Roufusport and its fighters. With an amazing 2012 campaign about to start fading from view, it’s on to bigger and better things in 2013!
For more information on Roufusport, please visit http://roufusport.com. You can also find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/roufusport and on Twitter @RoufusportMMA.
About Roufusport Roufusport is run by famed kickboxer and MMA trainer Duke Roufus and his business partners Scott Joffe and Anthony Pettis. It is a world class brand that includes a state-of-the-art training facility, fight team, and MMA promotion, the North American Fighting Championship.
Duke Roufus is one of the most recognizable MMA and striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. Roufus also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Anthony Pettis, Alan Belcher, Erik Koch, Chico Camus, and Germany's Pascal Krauss, in addition to Olympic wrestler and Bellator Fighting Championship Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren.
Former students include former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, The Ultimate Fighter season one star Stephan Bonnar, and UFC veterans Pat Barry, Matt Mitrione, Ben Rothwell, and Jesse Lennox.