NostraDukemus picked TUF 20 favorites
Duke Roufus: “Here is my picks I sent to @showtimepettis for @ufc @theug back in June during my 10 day visit on #TUF20 Thanks @danawhiteufc for having me on.”
There has long been a debate in boxing about what constitutes the greatest trainer. Is it a trainer like Angelo Dundee who coached in Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard the greatest talents of successive generations? Arguing against that point, barbershop pundits point out that before Dundee took control of their training, both men were already Olympic gold medalists.
Yank Durham was coaching at a PAL in 1961 when a chubby 17-year old kid walked into the gym. Three years later, Joe Frazier won an Olympic Gold medal. Seven years later, Frazier won the world heavyweight title. Durham remained Frazier’s chief trainer and manager until his death in 1973.
The same debate exists in mixed martial arts.
Who is a better trainer, Greg Jackson or Duke Roufus?
While Jackson’s boasts more world champions, in almost all cases they came to the gym as remarkable talents already. By contrast, Anthony Pettis walked into Roufusport for his first MMA lesson at the age of 18, with a background only in Taekwondo, which has not proven to date to be a high-percentage base in mixed martial arts.
In either case, one of the keys becoming a world-class coach is an eye for talent.
At the very start of the TUF 20 season, coach Anthony Pettis reached out to his coach, and asked for advice on picks.
Duke Roufus @dukeroufus
Here is my picks I sent to @showtimepettis for @ufc @theug back in June during my 10 day visit on #TUF20 Thanks @danawhiteufc for having me on & for the great experience. I am so proud of All the Women well done #TeamPettis & the new champ @carlaesparza1
Of those picks, Kish suffered a torn ACL and was out of the competition, and the rest were selected to fight at the TUF 20 Finale Friday night:
•Karla Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas for the UFC women’s strawweight championship.
•Jessica Penna defeated Randa Markos in the fight of the night.
•Tecia Torres won.
•Joanne Calderwood won.
In a sport where anything can happen, Duke’s picks proved to be something like extraordinary.