Former Team Quest, Xtreme Couture Coach Robert Follis Dead at 48
Mixed martial arts has lost one of its preeminent coaches.
Robert Follis, noted for his work at Team Quest and Xtreme Couture, died Friday. Follis’ girlfriend, Myra Fukuno, confirmed the news Sunday via Facebook.
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“Robert Follis, a man who has touched and changed so many lives, passed away on Dec. 15, 2017,” Fukuno wrote in a Facebook post. “He was kind. He was loving. He was compassionate.
“Robert was an incredible teacher, who opened our minds and created
a space where we knew learning was possible. He had a way of
pulling the best out of us. He will be remembered as a beloved
friend, brother, son, mentor, and coach by many.”
In 1997, Follis became a training partner for former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship titlist Randy Couture and eventually followed him to become co-owner and trainer at Team Quest in Gresham, Oregon, becoming a trainer for the likes of Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland and Evan Tanner. More recently under the Xtreme Couture banner, he helped lead Miesha Tate to the UFC women’s bantamweight title over Holly Holm at UFC 196 in March 2016.
Last month, after four years as head trainer at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Follis announced he was leaving the gym.
“I’d like to thank Randy [Couture] for bringing me on when the gym was going through some struggles,” Follis told Bleacher Report in November. “Having the opportunity to build it back up to a world-class level has been one of the great experiences of my professional career.”
On Sunday evening, Couture offered his own condolences via Instagram.
“As one of the founding members of Team Quest and Xtreme Couture MMA it is with great sorrow that we say good bye to Robert Follis,” Couture wrote. “Robert was a friend, coach, mentor, and philosopher of martial arts to many of us. It is with a very heavy heart that I write this tribute to a man that touched so many.”
An email address has been set up for those who knew Follis to share recollections, stories, photos and other media at [email protected].
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