Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (山本"KID"徳郁 (,山本"KID"徳郁?), birth date March 15, 1977) is a Japanesemixed martial arts fighter. 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 their 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[1]. Kid naturally walks around at 143 pounds. Though most fighters his size fight at 130 pounds, Kid usually competes in the lightweight division (155lbs). The one controversial loss on his record is because of his fight against Stephen Palling in 2002, in which Kid received a cut as he went for a double-leg takedown. Kid shot in and hit his forehead against Palling's knee. After Kid slammed Palling, Kid began his usual ground-and-pound tactics from Palling's guard. However, blood began pouring out of Yamamoto's cut and the referee stopped the fight. The doctors determined that Kid was unable to continue and Stephen Palling was declared the winner. He faced Mike Zambidis in a kickboxing match at the K-1 World Max 2005 tournament and lost by knock-out. In early 2007, KID announced indefinite leave of absence from MMA to train for and compete in freestyle wrestling for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. However, after an injury prevented Yamamoto from competing in the Japanese Olympic wrestling qualifiers, he returned to mixed martial arts with a win over jiu-jitsu world champion Bibiano Fernandes at K-1 Hero's 11 by unanimous decision. His most recent fight was at K-1 HERO's Dynamite!! 2007 on December 31 against BJJ expert and Abu Dhabi champion Rani Yahya. Yamamoto won in the second round via KO due to kicks on the ground.
