Duke Roufus on Erik Koch's past weight cuts: He couldn't function two weeks out

Just how bad were Erik Koch‘s cuts to get down to 145 pounds when he competed as a UFC featherweight? Pretty stinkin’ bad, his trainer, Duke Roufus, said.

That’s the primary reason Koch (13-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), a onetime contender who seemed destined for a title shot, decided to move up to 155 pounds. Tonight, he hopes it proves a wise one when he meets heavy underdog Rafaello Oliveira (15-6 MMA, 2-5 UFC) tonight at UFC 170, which takes place at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.

The bout is relegated to the UFC Fight Pass online prelims. It’s a significant demotion for the WEC vet – but one necessitated by a two-fight skid that included losses to Ricardo Lamas and Dustin Poirier.

But Roufus, who trains a number of current UFC fighters at his Milwaukee-based Roufusport camp, said it was the right move.

“Longevity, health-wise – 155 is where he belongs,” he told MMAjunkie Radio. “He feels great, unfortunately. I’m the one who’s sore. He beat the pads up, and he really put it on us this week. He’s ready to go.”

Koch, a two-time “Knockout of the Night” bonus winner who also owns a solid submission game, struggled to make the 146-pound cutoff, Roufus said. Koch made his Zuffa debut in late 2009 at WEC 45, and though he won five of his first six fights with the UFC and WEC, the weight cuts eventually took a toll.

In fact, Roufus said the process began weeks before the event and would cripple the 25-year-old fighter’s camp.

“It was really tough,” he said. “It was to the point he couldn’t even function mentally two weeks before the fight. It was a dreadful cut for him. I’m real happy he made the decision (to move up).”

Roufus said it was a decision he fully endorsed. The world champion kickboxer enjoyed a long and fruitful career of his own, and he said a big reason for his longevity was that he didn’t tax himself with such drastic weight cuts.

So while some critics may point to Koch’s move as a desperate measure to salvage a struggling UFC career, Roufus said it’s instead a needed step to assure the youngster is fighting well into the next decade.

“Most people were like, ‘Why would you abort a division where you’re already in contendership?’” Roufus said. “But he’s young, and my biggest thing with these guys is giving them long-term advice, not short-term advice. My whole point is to help them have a career like I did. I fought almost 20 years on and off as a fighter because of it.”

For the latest on UFC 170, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.