The death of amateur boxer Dennis Munson Jr. last March recently sparked a discussion about the physical and verbal abuse that fighters had to endure while training at Roufusport MMA Academy in Michigan. To his defense, head coach Duke Roufus said that there was a "chaotic time" at the gym but things have definitely changed. 

An article published by the Journal Sentinel detailed how so many factors and errors led to the death of the 24-year-old fighter who lost consciousness inside the ring and died a few hours after.

The report noted that the referee, ringside doctor and cornermen all made mistakes that contributed to Munson's tragic death.

"On the night Munson stepped into the ring for the first time, there was no state commissioner or inspectors and no second ringside doctor. Munson and the other kickboxers had not received full physicals by a doctor, which would have been required for an MMA bout," the report said.

It added that the fighters were weighed in on the morning of the bout but that was not advisable.

"It is a less expensive option for the promoter because officials don't need to be paid to be there the day before. But the state views that approach as more dangerous. In MMA matches in Wisconsin, officials require weigh-ins to be done the day before a fight. That allows more time for fluids to be replenished including around the brain, where they increase protection from blow," the Journal Sentinel report added.

According to Deadspin, a footage of the match showed that there were a lot of points in the fight where it could have already been stopped. The video also showed how Munson slowly lost control of his own body and fell on the canvas almost lifeless. The same report added that ringside doctor Carlos Feliciano and Al Wichgers "neglect to even acknowledge that Munson is out on his feet even before he takes much damage."

His cornerman Scott Cushman was seen holding him up in-between rounds then slaps him in the face during the last round to keep him awake.

"Even after Munson collapsed, care was delayed by a disagreement over treatment, hang-ups exiting the building and confusion about ambulance care," the Journal Sentinel added.

The incident also solicited responses from social media especially from other fighters like UFC women's strawweight Rose Namajunas who posted on her Instagram page a photo of Munson with the caption: "Sad thing is I've experienced first hand these coaches not so friendly demeanor in the past. But you put up with it because you believe in your coach to guide you in becoming a champion."

Former UFC fighter Eric Schafer, on the other hand, said that has never been in a "more toxic environment" when he was training at the said gym.

"I saw teammate after teammate getting treated like sh-t. Guys being told to beat up lower level guys that were just trying to help out, UFC fighters being told to beat up other UFC level fighters so they would not come back, verbal abuse, violence, guys getting lied to about fights, etc.," he was quoted by MMA Junkie as saying.

In response to all these news, Roufus told MMA Junkie that he was surprised with the allegations of the other fighters regarding the environment at the training gym.

He also noted that there was a chaotic time at the gym but that things have really changed after that. "I think they left in 2010. It's 2014. If you look at the results of what the kids are doing right now, and just the evolution of MMA, things have changed."