Norifumi Yamamoto

Who is Norifumi Yamamoto?

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto is a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the UFC. 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 became the K-1 HERO's 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion in December, 2005 after defeating Genki Sudo via a controversial TKO due to punches.

Yamamoto comes from a wrestling family. His father Ikuei Yamamoto representing Japan at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich and his sisters Miyu and Seiko both won 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. He also trained briefly under Choi Mu Bae.

Though by most measures he is a natural Bantamweight, many of Yamamoto's most significant bouts have been in the Lightweight division as it was the lightest division in Hero's. More recently though, Yamamoto has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the Bantamweight division, although he has not performed very well in the UFC, going winless in his first three fights with the organization.