Milwaukee, WI
‘I started when I was 4 years old’: Milwaukee-area teen becomes MMA champion in Greece
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58)–A local teenager knew early on exactly what he wanted to be, begging his parents to let him play a sport that would eventually crown him as a world champion.
“It keeps me motivated just knowing that I have the potential to be the best in the world,” said DiMaggio Rodriguez-Rios.
The boy recently turned 13 years old.
“I always wanted to fight, I knew I was going to be great at this sport, I knew training at such an amazing gym, like, this is one of the best in the world,” he explained.
Rodriguez-Rios has been living his dream since the age of 7.
“I begged my parents to let me start fighting…originally, I was going to play baseball but I watched ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ growing up like I remember watching Tony Ferguson on it and then I really got hooked after that and really wanted to start fighting,” he said.
Mixed Martial Arts incorporates techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, karate and Muay Thai
The hybrid combat sport has gained popularity over recent years and it’s caused fear among some parents who know athletes could suffer traumatic brain injuries as a result of playing the sport.
“I started when I was 4 years old, so next year will be 50 years (that) I’ve been in martial arts,” said Duke Roufus. “I started competing when I was six and I turned professional 18 to 38 and I’ve been coaching, teaching martial arts for kids since I was 13.”
Roufus is Rodriguez-Rios’ coach–a former four-time kickboxing world champion and the owner of Roufusport MMA Academy in Milwaukee’s West Side.
“The MMA training starts at 8 years old and that’s when they can start competing,” he said. “And mind you, it’s not the MMA you see in the UFC on TV… there’s no head strikes and it’s a limited ruleset, it’s very safe.”
Mixed Martial Arts however, is known to involve high exposure to head trauma. That is why some states have allowed youth MMA to be regulated. Wisconsin began doing so in 2010, sanctioning both amateur and professional divisions.
“I was a big proponent, I helped design the rules, I’m part of the USA MMA Amateur Committee,” Roufus added.
He’s been lucky, never experiencing head or brain injury. Roufus said techniques have evolved over time.
“It’s an amazing adrenaline rush, it’s like, it’s so much fun learning all the combinations from angles to what punch to throw,” Rodriguez-Rios said. “From the striking side it’s really just a mind game.”
Training at Roufusport MMA Academy has turned into a full-blown discipline for the past four years.
Roughly two to three hours a day, three to four times a week.
Earlier this year, he flew to Arkansas to compete at Nationals.
“When I won Nationals. I won all my fights in the first round, all finishes, one was like 20 seconds,” he said. “I was really confident that I was going to win internationals.”
Rodriguez-Rios was one of roughly 50 representing ‘Team USA’ and one of six kids from Roufusport gym fighting in Greece for the MMA World Championship.
He won gold in his 130-pound division among 13- and 14-year-olds. Three other kids from Roufusport medaled but he was the only one crowned world champion.
“This whole summer, past summer, I was training with the pros pretty much every day, it was extremely motivating,” he added.
His coach is proud of him, admiring his students’ hard work and dedication to be the best he can be.
“He’s got that star power, you know? He’s got very good technique and he’s got a lot of enthusiasm when he’s competing,” Roufus said.
The sky’s the limit for the one whose career has just taken off.
“I’m going to keep on training, do local tournaments here in Milwaukee, you know, Waukesha and I’m going to go back to Nationals–qualify, win, and then win Worlds again,” Rodriguez-Rios concluded.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon runner struck following vehicle crash
CUDAHY, Wis. – A Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon runner is recovering after a car hit her during the race on Sunday, Oct. 6.
It all happened shortly after 11 a.m., on South Lake Drive in Cudahy. Police say the driver had a medical emergency.
It was supposed to be a morning of setting personal records.
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But for one runner, the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon took a tragic turn.
Cudahy police say during the marathon a vehicle hit a 28-year-old runner.
It happened before 11:30 a.m. near Henry and South Lake Drive, across from Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital.
Police say a 68-year-old Waterford woman driving southbound experienced a medical emergency. She sideswiped another vehicle, causing a rollover.
Police say the woman then hit the runner before then coming to a stop near the woods.
“These are obviously incidents we never want to see happen in any event, any live event,” said Jen Puente from the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon.
Neighbors say the southbound lanes were open to traffic, but the northbound lanes were closed for the race and the runner was alone.
There were no hard barriers blocking cars from getting close to the course.
“There were cones along the race route to indicate the race route, along with signage, public awareness and officials along the course,” added Puente. “The Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon team will continue debriefing and looking at options to ensure runner safety not just next year but perpetuity.”
The runner and two drivers involved were taken to the hospital.
One vehicle was on its side
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Puente provided an update on the runner who survived but never reached the finish line.
“The runner was released from the hospital and is at home recuperating and recovering,” said Puente.
Police say the runner who was hit is from Medford, Wisconsin, which is in the northern part of the state.
FOX6 is working to get an update on the others involved in this incident.
Milwaukee, WI
Silver Alert issued for critically missing 69-year-old Milwaukee man with dementia
The Wisconsin Department of Justice and Milwaukee police are searching for a vulnerable, critically missing 69-year-old man.
Ike King Jr. was last seen traveling on foot Sunday, Oct. 6, around 10:30 p.m. in the 3300 block of North 41st Street, a largely residential area just west of West Fond du Lac Avenue. King has dementia. He is Black and has brown eyes and a black, curly afro. He has a missing front tooth and is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 175 pounds with a medium build.
King was last seen wearing a white flannel, a blue shirt, blue pants resembling Dickies style pants and black Nike flip-flops.
Silver Alerts are issued for elderly persons who are missing and believed to have dementia or some other cognitive impairment. “Critical missing” is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors.
Anyone with information regarding King’s whereabouts should call the Milwaukee Police Department’s Seventh District at 414-935-7272.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee shootings Sunday; 1 dead, 1 injured
MILWAUKEE – One person is dead and another is injured after different shootings in Milwaukee on Sunday, Oct. 6.
20th and Cornell
A 16-year-old was shot around 1 p.m. and went to the hospital for treatment. The teen victim succumbed to their injury.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation. Police are looking for anyone involved.
Birch and Sheridan
A 25-year-old was shot around 5:30 p.m. The victim went to the hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.
Police are still investigating and looking for anyone involved.
MPD tips
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app.
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