DANNY DOWNES AND BEN ASKREN COMPETE IN THE LAST TWO BIG ROUFUSPORT BOUTS OF 2011

Posted on | October 28, 2011 | No Comments

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): It’s been quite a year for Roufusport. Nominated for the “Gym of the Year” at the 2011 World MMA Awards, the fight team will be represented on both the UFC and Bellator fight cards this Saturday, and they will be the last two big fights for the camp this year. At UFC 137, Danny Downes will look to get his first UFC victory against Ramsey Nijem, while Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren will defend the strap against Jay Hieron at Bellator 56.

For Downes, his first foray into the Octagon was an extremely tough one, as he took on grizzled contender Jeremy Stephens on short notice in his last bout. In the end, it was a tough decision loss for the Irish fighter, but he proved his mettle by making it through the bout. In fact, Stephens caught the 25 year-old in a kimura arm-lock that had the crowd gasping. Now, Downes has the opportunity to possibly erase that memory from the minds of the fans.

“It’s important for me to prove that I belong in the highest level of MMA competition,” says Downes. “I got in this business to be elite, not to waste time and play games.”

Having a full training camp for this bout should make a difference.

“Camp was great. My opponent is a wrestler, so I worked a lot with my Olympian/NCAA champion Ben Askren a lot to get ready. And the fans can expect entertainment, a brutal knockout, and then a charming post-fight speech.”

Speaking of Askren, the undefeated welterweight will face what is probably the stiffest trial of his young career in “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron. A 26-fight veteran who has competed in both the UFC and Strikeforce, Hieron has a solid experience edge on the former NCAA wrestling champ. Askren, however, is unfazed. After sending Nick Thompson into retirement in his last scrap, the recent Roufusport import has a clear perspective on this Saturday’s fight.

“Jay Hieron is my toughest test to date, but I think I am more than prepared to handle him.”

It’s no secret that the ground is Askren’s domain, but he has been working on rounding out his game.

“I am just working on getting better and making myself a complete fighter.”

And the champ is very clear on his plans for his opponent this Saturday.

“Complete domination.”

For more information on Roufusport, please visit http://roufusport.com/.

About Roufusport
Roufusport is run by famed kickboxer and MMA trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner Scott Joffe. 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.

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 Alan Belcher, Anthony Pettis (of the famous “Showtime Kick” off the cage), Ben Rothwell, Erik Koch, and “Danny Boy” Downes.

Former students include former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, The Ultimate Fighter season one star Stephan Bonnar, and UFC veterans Pat Barry, Matt Mitrione and Jesse Lennox.

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