UFC 126: Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto Talks UFC Debut
by Nick Thomas on Jan 15, 2011 7:23 PM EST
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto, who is turning 34 in March, says that he’ll fight for about 2-3 years longer.
In the last chapter of his career he will fight in UFC, which he thinks is the highest peak of combat sports. His fighting spirit/motivation has risen to the top now that he’s received the opportunity to fight there.
As soon as WEC was merged into UFC it was decided that he would fight there.
He then said full of confidence: "It’s all right. There aren’t that many great people in my class. I can take (Dominick Cruz) out."
-- Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto talks to daily.co.jp. (translated by Nightmare of Battle) 
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (18-3) -170
Win Federico Lopez - KO (Punches) Dream 14
Loss Masanori Kanehara -Decision (Unanimous) K-1
Loss Joe Warren - Decision (Split) Dream 9
Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson (7-1) +140
Win Damacio Page - Submission (Guillotine Choke) WEC 52
Win Nick Pace - Decision (Unanimous) WEC 51
Loss Brad Pickett - Decision (Unanimous) WEC 48
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I’m a huge KID fan but, just like Gomi, I think KID has already peaked in terms of his fighting abilities. Although its a bit late, I’d still like to see that superfight with Faber.
"Referees, be sure to step in and stop the fight on time tomorrow, because I might get carried away in the moment and my many punches may end up destroying my opponent." - Tatsuya "CRUSHER" Kawajiri
He may have reached his athletic peak
But there is absolutely nothing stopping him from learning and applying new skills. The same goes for Gomi.
I felt the decision vs Kanehara was complete horseshit
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
I haven’t seen that fight but I wanted to add the the decision against Joe Warren is still upsetting to me.
www.mmalinker.com
by exsanguinator on Jan 15, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
Even though it was a very close fight and I was not at all pissed at the decision I scored the Joe Warren fight for Kid.
I've never seen that fight but it sounds like Kid's losses are a bunch of BS
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
by Urijah Bieber on Jan 15, 2011 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
Kid did all the damage and busted up Warren’s face pretty bad. Joe did get takedowns and a few nice kness to the body in the clinch but I in no way felt he deserved to win the fight. 85% of the damage done in the fight was done buy Kid
This is probably why Kid left
can’t catch a fucking break. Two shitty decisions? Piece im going to the ufc
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
by Urijah Bieber on Jan 16, 2011 1:08 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Indeed, Kid fucked Joe Warren up and all Warren did was land takedowns and assknees. I remember seeing that fight during the live airing and wondering what the hell was wrong with Japan that they would score similar to North American judging rules. Probably the first time I saw a Japanese fight and said, “well, if that fight was in Japan… oh, wait.”
www.mmalinker.com
by exsanguinator on Jan 16, 2011 5:14 AM EST up reply actions
So kid was jobbed twice
but still written off. If the fights were called correctly he’d still be top ten.
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
by Urijah Bieber on Jan 16, 2011 7:13 AM EST up reply actions
Joe Warren has received a lot of gifts over the years.
by BrothaDarkness on Jan 16, 2011 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
That's completely ridiculous
What a bunch of revisionism!!!!
There are no doubts that KID lost to Warren , he really dominated KID, despite the japanese landing some hard shot, Warren won.
Kanehara won too. It was closer but the majority scored the fight for Kanehara.
Just because KID signed with the UFC does not mean you can try to hype him up and try to say he was robbed when he lost the two fights.
KID is past his prime and is another Gomi, a way past his prime japanese fighter who has a name and who will be used to pad the record of americans fighters.
who is revising?
these are how the fights were seen by fans at the time they happened.
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
by Urijah Bieber on Jan 16, 2011 7:14 AM EST up reply actions
You are so wrong
A big majority of the fans scored the fights for Warren and Kanehara.
You just don’t want to admit that the UFC signed an irrelevant japanese fighter like Gomi who is past his prime.
Kid is a shadow of what he was and lost this two fights. Deal with it.
I never said he hasn't lost a step
Because he has, the only reason he lost the Kanehara fight is because he ate a mouth full of canvas after eating a big punch. But these decisions were contentious to say the least. It’s not about not wanting to admit anything.
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
by Urijah Bieber on Jan 16, 2011 8:04 AM EST up reply actions
Deal with what ? HelloR f- First off no one is not saying it was a close fight and if you read my post above you will see that I said I could see the fight being scored eather way. 2nd did you even watch the fight ? Your post makes me think you did not even watch the dam fight.saying that Warren dominated Kid is just plain stupid I would hate to see what in your eyes a close fight is ? It was a split decision and that right there should tell you it was a close fight even if you did not watch it. 3rd saying alot of people scored that fight for Warren is jus plain wrong in my opinion. I don’t know your definition of alot of people but I remember alot of chatter about how fans scored that fight and what should count when scoring a fight. Also alot analyst and MMA journalist scored that fight for Kid. I know Jordan Breen,Tj Desantis and Josh Gross had Kid winning the fight. Your post makes me think you just try bashing anything MMA especially fighters from Japan ?
Does anyone know where I can find Kid Yamamoto merchandise?
I went to his website, but I’m pretty sure they only ship in Japan.
"He wants to get in close to use that reach advantage." - Goldie
Only in Japan
Yeah I want to rock a Krazy Bee hat @ 126 myself, guess that won’t happen
by Rob Young on Jan 15, 2011 8:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That is disappointing.
I like some of the designs.
"He wants to get in close to use that reach advantage." - Goldie
Comon Kid
win this one and make some waves at BW…even if you don’t become champ.
CPG
Alistair Overeem - StrikeForce HeavyWeight Champion, K-1 2010 World Grand Prix Champion, DREAM Interim HeavyWeight Champion
I wonder if Kid,Faber and Torres all win their fights, who will get the titleshot. I would like Faber getting the shot and Kid vs Torres for the next challenger. Am I forgetting anyone in the mix?
I think we’ll see Torres-Bowles II before we see him fight Kid for a title shot. Mighty Mouse is a good fighter, and if Kid gets past him we’ll probably see him fight once more before his shot. I’m still pissed Kid/Johnson isn’t automatically on the main card. Ellenburger is an alright fighter, but I’ve been waiting years to see Kid stateside.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
Kid's one of the biggest threats to Cruz
Dominick would win the rounds for sure, but Kid has killshot power at 155 let alone 135, if he could fend off Cruz’s wrestling and catch up to him at some point a KO is very possible.
Personally i think Kid loses to Johnson @ UFC 126, but if Yamamoto does get past him he’s probably the most interesting fight for Cruz along with Faber.
I think Cruz's speed would be too much
The biggest thing that makes Cruz so effective is he’s just blindingly fast.
"So, while you're taking a break from the UFC, hanging out at some lame party that your girlfriend dragged you to, I'll man up and watch some goddamn fights like a goddamn adult."
- Mike Fagan
Support independent artists
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Brian Bowles has KO power just like Kid, Cruz has speed over the whole division till someone can figure it out he’ll beat everyone
by tremblay6 on Jan 16, 2011 9:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
eh kids not what he was. but like everyone said he has BY FAR the most SCARY KO power in that division.
I would laugh like a madman if Cruz was doing his little tap dancing moves and gets KTFO.
OMG i would laugh so hard ,please MMA gods grant me that wish.
He would have no problems with anyones wrestling…. he was on the japanese olympic squad. I don’t know how much truth there is in it but apparently he was kicked off because of punching an opponent.
He tried out for the Olympic squad, but he didn’t make it. He got his shoulder wrecked during nationals.
It would actually be really really nice to see Kid start to using that Wrestling ounce again ? If I remember right around 05/06 after the Uno fight and the K1 Heroes tournamnet he just stoped using his wrestling in a offensive manner and only just used it for take down def. He pretty much like alot of wreslters who have above average stand just fell in love with his striking and forgot all about using wrestling for offense.
I hope KID comes out crazy like the old days
I also hope he doesnt stop hitting Johnson after he KO’s him like the old days. He used to beat a lot of people up after the fight ended haha. It made him seem crazy and I like crazy
Demetrious Johnson is going to be tiny compared to him but he is fast
the fastest guy in the ufc. Also the smallest. I’m kind of sad this is the first fight kid is in.
Contributor at Unintelligent Defense
Lead Blogger at Ninja's Place
"...just when you think you’ve produced your magnum opus, someone shows up and takes a giant shit in your mouth. In your mouth." - Anthony Pace
Don't eat B.L.T. sammaches
i dont know much about kid but what has he done to garnish such praise?
any fights i should check out?
by The Evil Dr Pork Chop on Jan 16, 2011 3:02 AM EST reply actions
check out his highlightreel
although his best days could be behind him, him comming to the ufc is best way to find out
KID is past his prime
Like Gomi.
The UFC just want to cash on their name and know that they will lose.
Kid in his prime
was unbeatable. Honestly. Even more legendary than Fedor. The guy was fighting fighters way bigger than him and making them look like nothing. Just ridiculous.
Kid was unstoppable until he took his hiatus...
Imagine if Kid never took time for the Olympic Trials, I think he would be at Fedor level. During his peak his timing was excellent and he was able to land cleaner shots whether it be with his hands or knee. I hope he comes to the UFC ready and doesn’t pull a Gomi or as much as I hate to say it….an Akiyama.
by BrothaDarkness on Jan 16, 2011 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
I’m a big Kid fan and I dont think his best days are behind him, at 135 he can be a force still, but saying their isnt any great fighters in this div is a joke.
Cruz, Faber, Bowles, Torres, Benavidez, Jorgensen, Fabiano, Pickett, DJ, Page, Wineland, Mizugaki, this div has fighters.
Plus look out for propsects like Renan Barao and Michael McDonald. They are future studs in the div.
McDonald fights Nick Page next, I’d like to see Barao fight someone like Pickett or Page.
Plus UFC can always sign Ueda, Imanari, KOTC champ Jimmie Rivera, Katsumura.
I want Kid to do well, I believe if Faber wins he gets Cruz next, but I think if Kid beats DJ he will either fight Bowles or Torres, if Torres wins his fight.
Kid vs Torres for number 1 contender fight to face Cruz vs Faber/Wineland winner?
Its dream fights fans have wanted, Torres vs Kid, Kid vs Faber, Kid vs Cruz would be one of them as well.
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