Roufus: I’m going to build Punk from the ground up
Duke Roufus on CM Punk: “I’m going to do what I’ve done with some of my athletes in the past, which is build him from the ground up.”
Phil “CM Punk” Brooks, 36, has started training at Roufusport, as detailed by founder Duke Roufus, in an interview with MMAJunkie.
I know he’s wanted to do this for a while, and I know he loves martial arts, said Roufus to Ben Fowlkes. It’s just been a passion of his, and I respect it so much because he’s leaving the friendly confines of his world to come into the MMA world. That’s not easy.
“I’m not going to be putting him in with my team just yet. I’m going to do what I’ve done with some of my athletes in the past, which is build him from the ground up. His first sparring session will be with me, and I’ve been doing martial arts since I was 4, so I have incredible control. I can score on him but not hurt him. I can teach him, which is the first stage.
There was some question about potential friction between Brooks and Roufusport fighter Ben Askren, who was understandably upset that he, and undefeated fighter and former Olympian did not have a UFC contract, and Brooks does. However, Roufus reports that things are cool.
(Brooks) gets it, said Roufus. He thinks Ben should be in the UFC too. But that’s between the UFC and Ben. The best thing about this situation is, whether you’re for it or against it, it’s creating a buzz outside the MMA industry, and that’s a positive. A high tide raises all ships.
With ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ you see a lot of guys who come on that show, come in really raw, they actually have bad habits, which is worse. Then after the show they move to a new camp, usually somebody they were coached by on the show, and that’s when the magic starts to happen. We’re going to see that same formula here, but without the cameras on him.