Norifumi Yamamoto

Norifumi Yamamoto

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (山本徳郁, Yamamoto Norifumi?, born March 15, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy 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 the Middleweight 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.

Yamamoto's natural weight is 143 pounds. Though most mixed martial artists his size compete in the bantamweight division (135 lbs), many of his most significant fights have been in the lightweight division (155 lbs) as it was the lightest division in Hero's.

Yamamoto last competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the bantamweight division (135 lbs) which is closer to his natural weight.