Duke Roufus Says Diaz Brothers Tried Jumping Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis’ coach Duke Roufus has one doozy of a claim involving the Diaz brothers.
Pettis is scheduled to take on Nate Diaz this Saturday night (Aug. 17) in the co-main event of UFC 241. There is no love lost between the two. “Showtime” has said that Diaz only talks trash on him when the cameras are rolling. Diaz has expressed that he feels Pettis was “big leaguing” him while he reigned as the UFC lightweight champion.
Roufus was a guest on ESPN’s Ariel Helwani MMA Show and he claimed that the Diaz brothers tried jumping Pettis in a nightclub (via LowKickMMA.com).
“For years Nate has just attacked him,” Roufus said. “Not only verbally, but even in a nightclub, they tried to jump him, him and Nick. It gets to a point where stuff just boils over. I get the perspective of where Anthony is coming from. To me, Anthony reminds me a lot of Oscar De La Hoya or “Sugar” Ray Leonard, he’s that star fighter, he’s got that charisma.”
Roufus believes that the motive boils down to jealousy.
“A lot of guys just – it’s not even professional, it’s more, these guys are jealous, envy of him,” Roufus said. “It causes a weird energy. Like Fernando Vargas tried to bully De La Hoya, De La Hoya knocked him out. Like Duran tried to do twice against ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard put it on Duran the second time.
“Like Mayorga tried to do to Oscar De La Hoya. So many guys try to bully Anthony, I love it, because it brings out the best in Anthony. Looking forward to it, sometimes fights are personal, and those are the fun ones if you ask me.”
UFC 241 takes place inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event, UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will defend his gold against Stipe Miocic. Stick with MyMMANews.com for UFC 241 coverage.
