https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/9/18/17873110/japanese-legend-norifumi-kid-yamamoto-dies-at-age-41 Devastating news in the world of MMA esp for longtime fans of the sport. Rip.
Newer fans won't be able to appreciate what a force he was back in the day or he mark he left in the sport. One of THE pioneers of lower weight MMA(probably the most important pre WEC) Sadly he was a completely spent force by the time he got to the UFC. Make no mistake about it... At his best he would still be able to hang witty the top Flyweights and Bantamweights of today. RIP to a true ATG and trailblazer of the sport.
Tragic passing away so young still remember him winning the K1 Heroes tournament, gave up huge size but still had a lot of success. R.I.P
I can't believe this. It's crazy news. Cancer at such a young age. Really hits home how swiftly anyone can pass away when you hear stuff like this. RIP Kid Yamamoto. A phenomenal fighter and a true legend of MMA.
It's a shame how a lot of these legends came to UFC long after their best and weren't able to showcase their talent to the vast audiences that would have immortalised them on the world stage. Yamamoto in his prime would have been recognised worldwide as an MMA phenom. Instead, he's only really known to guys who followed him back in the Pride/Dream/K-1 days, not even particularly hardcore fans, just guys who were following the scene back then. He deserved better than that.
I rewatched his fight with Zambidis and while he got KO'd in the 3rd he held his own in a way no other MMA guy could have at the the time. Most get iced in the first. Dillashaw and Garbrandt both get iced by MZ.
Here's an interesting story: I'm part of the Carlson Gracie BJJ lineage by way of Rodrigo Meideros. One of Rodrigo's black belts does regular seminars at the academy I train at, and he was very close with Carlson after Carlson Sr. moved to Chicago. He and Carlson were watching tape together of Yamamoto's fight with Royler Gracie, and apparently Carlson was ecstatic when Royler got sparked out cold, jumping up and down and cheering in Portuguese. Evidently Sr. had a passionate hatred for Royler, and bad feelings toward most of the people from Helio's lineage.
Yep. He was a monster back in the day. There was even talk of him fighting Gomi. And if you know how good Gomi was in Japan, that speaks volumes of Kid. RIP.
