UFC signs Kid Yamamoto!!!!!!

Dana White: UFC inks Japanese notable Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Dec 10, 2010 at 10:50 am ET
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has signed featherweight standout Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (18-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC).

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported the contract negotiations earlier this week, and UFC president Dana White recently took to Twitter to confirm the signing.

MMAjunkie.com could not immediately confirm the deal or contract details with UFC officials or the fighter's camp.

Along with recent signee Michihiro Omigawa, Yamamoto represents a key acquisition following the announcement of a WEC-UFC merger. The WEC's final show takes place next week, and as part of this past weekend's UFC event (The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale), the UFC hosted its first-ever featherweight fight.

Now, the organization looks to stock the newly adopted featherweight and bantamweight divisions, and Japan's crop of lighter-weight fighters could be prime pickings.

Yamamoto, the 2005 K-1 HERO's middleweight (155-pound) grand-prix champion, in May was set to make his U.S. debut in a fight against Federico Lopez at "Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery." But he subsequently was pulled off the card at the request of DREAM officials and instead fought Lopez at DREAM.14, where he delivered a first-round knockout. The win snapped a two-fight skid that included decision losses to Joe Warren (in the quarterfinals of the 2009 DREAM featherweight grand prix) and Masanori Kanehara (at DREAM "Dynamite!! 2009").

During a 14-fight win streak from 2002 to 2007, he defeated the likes of Jeff Curran, Caol Uno, Bibiano Fernandes and Rani Yahya.

Once the top-ranked featherweight in the world, Yamamoto considered a run for the 2008 Olympic games in freestyle wrestling but was forced to abandon that goal by a serious elbow injury.

As MMAjunkie.com reported earlier this week, Yamamoto could make his UFC debut as as soon as February or March.

Whoa didnt see this one coming!!!

 

This is a BAD sign for Japanese MMA. Their stars are defecting to the US. Its as good as dead if you ask me.

 

You mean the UFC want to crack Asia IN ASIA. Taking their stars wont make any difference to their Asian fan base over in the East. Im not sure guys like Yamamoto Gomi etc will have long stays in the UFC. Although its great to see veterans like these back in action.

 

Considering DREAM and SF exchange fighters its odd to think he didnt end up there. Unless UFC offered more money. But like you say it seems like the UFC is digging deep and signing guys to prevent them going elsewhere.