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Revision as of 17:45, 27 July 2009
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (山本徳郁, Yamamoto Norifumi, born March 15, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Killer Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona. He moved on to K-1 HERO'S, where he won their tournament in December, 2005 after defeating Genki Sudo via a controversial TKO due to punches.
Kid comes from a wrestling family with his father Ikuei Yamamoto representing Japan at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich and his sisters Miyu and Seiko both winning world championships in freestyle wrestling. Kid received his education in the United States and wrestled at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona, capturing three state championships (with a third place finish as a freshman). He also trained briefly under Choi Mu Bae[1].
Yamamoto's natural weight is 143 pounds. Though most mixed martial artists his size compete in the bantamweight division (135lbs), many of his most significant fights have been in the lightweight division (155lbs) as it was the lightest division in HERO's.
Now competing in DREAM, Yamamoto will be fighting in the Japanese featherweight division (139lbs) as it is closer to his natural weight.
MMA career
Kid made his professional Mixed Martial Arts debut on March 02, 2001 against Masato Shiozawa at Shooto - To The Top 2, where he won this fight by unanimous decision. Kid would go on to win his next two fights both by TKO in the first round.
On May 5, 2002, Kid suffered his first loss by TKO to Stephen Palling. Kid received a cut as he went for a double-leg takedown. Kid shot in and Palling countered with a knee, opening a huge cut to Kid's face. Kid then slammed Palling. However, blood began pouring out of Yamamoto's cut and the referee stopped the fight. The doctors determined that Kid was unable to continue and Stephen Palling was declared the winner.
Kid would then go on to win his next three fights by TKO and Decision over Tetsuo Katsuta, Jeff Curran and Caleb Mitchell.
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto made his K-1 HERO's debut on April 7, 2004 at the K-1 MAX - World Grand Prix 2004 Opening Round where he made the Lightweight division take notice by choking out Tony Valente only 58 seconds into the fight. Kid wouldn't stop impressing there, as he would go on to defeat Kazuya Yasuhiro, Jadamba Narantungalag and Ian James Schaffa by TKO or Submission within the next twelve months.
Yamamoto faced Masato at K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!!, and lost via Decision. Kid then faced Mike Zambidis at the K-1 World Max 2005 tournament, he would also lose this bout by KO early into the third round.
Merely one year after his HERO's debut, Kid would etch his name into HERO's history where he defeated (and finished) three very highly regarded fighters in Royler Gracie, Caol Uno and Genki Sudo to win the 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix.[1]
On May 3, 2006 Kid made Mixed Martial Arts history when he knocked out Kazyuki Miyata four seconds into the fight, making it the shortest fight in HERO's and one of the fastest knockouts in MMA-history. He went on to win his next fight against Istvan Majoros by TKO half way through round 1.
Olympic Freestyle Wrestling
In early 2007, Kid announced an indefinite leave of absence from MMA to train for and compete in freestyle wrestling for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He had hoped to win the Olympic Gold medal for freestyle wrestling ever since he was a child, as his father Ikuei Yamamoto represented Japan in the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. However his hopes of following in his fathers footsteps stopped short, after an injury prevented Yamamoto from competing in the Japanese Olympic wrestling qualifiers. With this injury, Kid would have no choice but to leave his hopes of competing in the Olympic Games and return to Mixed Martial Arts.
Return to K-1 HERO's
Kid would return to Mixed Martial Arts on September 17, 2007 against Bibiano Fernandes at K-1 Hero's 11. Kid went on to win this fight by unanimous decision, his first in HERO's.
At K-1 HERO's Dynamite!! 2007 on December 31 against BJJ expert and Abu Dhabi Combat Club champion Rani Yahya at a weight of 135lbs[2]. Yamamoto won in the second round via KO due to kicks on the ground.
In February 2008, it was announced by Fighting and Entertainment Group, the parent entity behind kickboxing organization K-1 and mixed martial arts organization HERO's, that they would be producing a new MMA promotion titled DREAM alongside former PRIDE executives from Dream Stage Entertainment that will succeed and will replace FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, HERO'S. Norifumi Yamamoto was one of the many former PRIDE and HERO's fighters that were named to compete in this new promotion.[3].
It had since been announced that Kid will be making his DREAM debut on July 21 against undefeated Californian Joseph Benavidez in a Featherweight bout[2], however the bout was abruptly called off a mere three days prior to its scheduled date due to a knee injury suffered by Kid. He claimed that while sparring, he attempted a flying knee, landed awkwardly on his right leg and heard his knee pop. The 31-year-old firebrand was later diagnosed with a partial tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament. Yamamoto said that follow-up would be necessary to determine whether he needs surgery, but that he ardently hopes to not have to go under the knife. [3]
Yamamoto announced his participation in the Dream Featherweight Grandprix which begun at DREAM.7, and due to an injury will be seeded into the second round of the Feather Weight Grand Prix at DREAM.9,which occurred on May 26, facing 1-0 American, Joe Warren, in his return. Yamamoto was defeated by Warren via split decision. [4]
Grappling credentials
High School Results Arizona State Championships
Freshman (date to follow) 119lbs: 3rd place.
Sophomore 125lbs: 1st place
Junior 130lbs: 1st place
Senior 135lbs: 1st place
Freestyle Results All Japan Freestyle National Championships (Emperor's Cup)
1999 128 lbs: 2nd place
2007 132 lbs: 4th place
Kickboxing career
On July 13, 2009, under kickboxing rules, Yamamoto was defeated by Jae Hee Cheon via KO at K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final 8. He is now 1-3 under kickboxing rules.
Personal life
Yamamoto is married and has three children; two boys and one girl[5]
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| 20 matches | 17 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | |
Kickboxing Record
| 4 matches | 1 win | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 2 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Method | Round | Time | Location |
| July 13 2009 | Loss |  Jae hee Cheon
|
K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final 8 | KO (Left Hook) | 1 | 1:20 |  Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
|
| May 04 2005 | Loss |  Mike Zambidis
|
K-1 World Max 2005 Opening | KO (Right Hook) | 3 | 2:09 | Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan
|
| December 31 2004 | Loss | Masato
|
K-1 Premium Dynamite 2004 | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Kyocera Dome, Tokyo, Japan
|
| February 24 2004 | Win | Takehiro Murahama
|
K-1 World MAX 2004 Japan Tournament | KO (Punch) | 2 | 2:38 | Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
|
References
- ^ Fighters Profile
- ^ DREAM | HEIWA DREAM.5 ライト級グランプリ 2008 決勝戦
- ^ 'Kid' Yamamoto Injures Knee, Out of Dream
- ^ Manojlovic, Stefan (January 25, 2009). "DREAM 7 to feature Featherweight Grand Prix; Yamamoto offered first round bye". MMAmania.com. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
- ^ cartoon KAT-TUN episode 30