Age, Biography and Wiki

Norifumi Yamamoto is a Japanese mixed martial artist who has competed in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Shooto Featherweight Champion and was the first Japanese fighter to compete in the UFC. Yamamoto began his martial arts career at the age of 15, training in judo and karate. He later began training in Shooto and made his professional debut in 1998. He quickly rose to prominence in the sport, winning the Shooto Featherweight Championship in 2000. In 2003, Yamamoto made his UFC debut, becoming the first Japanese fighter to compete in the promotion. He went on to compete in the UFC for the next five years, compiling a record of 4-4. Yamamoto retired from MMA in 2013, after a long and successful career. He is currently the head coach of the Krazy Bee gym in Tokyo, Japan. Yamamoto has a net worth of approximately $1 million.

Popular As N/A
Occupation N/A
Age 41 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born 15 March, 1977
Birthday 15 March
Birthplace Kawasaki, Japan
Date of death September 18, 2018,
Died Place Dededo, Guam
Nationality Japan

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 15 March. He is a member of famous Artist with the age 41 years old group.

Norifumi Yamamoto Height, Weight & Measurements

At 41 years old, Norifumi Yamamoto height is 5ft 4in and Weight 135 lbs.

Physical Status
Height 5ft 4in
Weight 135 lbs
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Norifumi Yamamoto's Wife?

His wife is Malia (m. 2004 div. 2009)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Malia (m. 2004 div. 2009)
Sibling Not Available
Children 3

Norifumi Yamamoto Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is Norifumi Yamamoto worth at the age of 41 years old? Norifumi Yamamoto’s income source is mostly from being a successful Artist. He is from Japan. We have estimated Norifumi Yamamoto's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2023 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2023 Under Review
Net Worth in 2022 Pending
Salary in 2022 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Artist

Norifumi Yamamoto Social Network

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Wikipedia Norifumi Yamamoto Wikipedia
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Timeline

2018

On August 26, 2018, Yamamoto wrote on his Instagram that he had been diagnosed with cancer. On September 18, 2018, Yamamoto died from stomach cancer. The type of cancer was revealed by Rizin founder Nobuyuki Sakakibara, with permission from Yamamoto's father. In the same interview, Sakakibara revealed that the cancer was diagnosed as early as 2016, but Yamamoto hid it from the public. In the beginning of 2018, Yamamoto's condition worsened to a point of where his father flew him to Guam to receive treatment for his terminal cancer.

2016

Yamamoto was scheduled to face Chris Beal on June 18, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 89. However, Yamamoto was scratched from the bout on May 26 for an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Joe Soto.

2015

Yamamoto returned from a three-year hiatus to face Roman Salazar on February 28, 2015 at UFC 184. The bout was declared a no contest after an accidental eye poke by Yamamoto rendered Salazar unable to continue midway through the second round.

Yamamoto was expected to face Matt Hobar on September 27, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 75. However, the bout was scrapped as both fighters suffered injuries during the week leading up to the event.

2014

Yamamoto would then write his name into K-1 Hero's history by defeating three highly regarded fighters—Royler Gracie, Caol Uno and Genki Sudo—to win the 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix.

2013

Yamamoto was expected to face Ivan Menjivar on September 21, 2013 at UFC 165. However, Yamamoto was removed from the bout and was replaced by Wilson Reis.

2012

Yamamoto's next bout was against Vaughan Lee on February 26, 2012 at UFC 144. Yamamoto rocked Lee early in the opening round with a right hand, but minutes later was wobbled by a right hook-uppercut combination from the Brit. He immediately took Lee down, but got caught in a triangle choke; Lee then switched to an armbar, handing Yamamoto his first ever loss by submission.

2011

He was then expected to face Chris Cariaso on May 28, 2011 at UFC 130. However, Yamamoto was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Michael McDonald. Another bout was scheduled with Damacio Page at UFC 135 on September 24, 2011. It too was scrapped on September 1 after both fighters sustained injuries in training.

Yamamoto then fought Darren Uyenoyama on November 12, 2011 at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. Despite hurting Uyenoyama several times, including a knockdown in the second round, Yamamoto lost via unanimous decision after Uyenoyama controlled him on the ground for the majority of the fight.

2009

Yamamoto lost to SRC Featherweight Champion Masanori Kanehara via unanimous decision at Dynamite!! 2009 on New Year's Eve.

On July 13, 2009, Yamamoto was defeated by Korean kickboxer Jae Hee Cheon via KO at K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final 8. He is now 1-3 under K-1 Rules.

2008

In February 2008, Fighting and Entertainment Group launched Dream, a new MMA promotion intended to be the successor to Hero's. Norifumi Yamamoto was one of the many former Pride and Hero's fighters that was announced to be competing in the new promotion.[2]. He was supposed to make his Dream debut at Dream 5 against Joseph Benavidez, but the bout was abruptly called off three days before the event to a knee injury suffered by Yamamoto.

2007

In early 2007, Yamamoto announced an indefinite leave of absence from MMA to go back to his roots and train for and compete in freestyle wrestling for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He had hoped to win the Olympic Gold medal for freestyle wrestling ever since he was a child, as his father Ikuei Yamamoto represented Japan in the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. In qualifying, Yamamoto began with an impressive win over Japanese Self Defense Forces member Akihiro Tsuchida. Yamamoto looked nimble and explosive against Tsuchida, who had taken third in the 132-pound freestyle class at the 2006 Emperor's Cup. However disaster struck in the semifinals against 2004 Athens Bronze Medalist Kenji Inoue, when in the first move of the match, an arm-whip takedown by Inoue, Yamamoto dislocated his right elbow, and was consequently prone for the easy pinfall. With this injury, Yamamoto had no choice but to leave his hopes of competing in the Olympic Games and return to Mixed Martial Arts.

Yamamoto's return to MMA came on September 17, 2007 against future Dream Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes at K-1 Hero's 10. Yamamoto won the fight by unanimous decision. At K-1 Hero's Dynamite!! 2007 on December 31 Yamamoto faced WEC veteran Rani Yahya at Bantamweight [1]. Yamamoto won in the second round via TKO due to soccer and ground kicks.

2006

On May 3, 2006 Yamamoto made mixed martial arts history when he knocked out Kazuyuki Miyata four seconds into the fight with a flying knee moments after the bell sounded. It was the fastest ever knockout in a major MMA promotion.

2005

Yamamoto then faced Mike Zambidis at the K-1 World Max 2005 Tournament, he would also lose this bout by KO early into the third round.

2004

Yamamoto made his K-1 Hero's debut on April 7, 2004 at the K-1 World MAX 2004 World Tournament Open, where he choked out Tony Valente only 58 seconds into the fight. Over the next year, Yamamoto's popularity grew as he went on to defeat Kazuya Yasuhiro, Jadamba Narantungalag and Ian James Schaffa in exciting fashion.

Yamamoto faced Masato at K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!! in a highly anticipated match up under K-1 Rules, and lost via decision. The fight did a 31.6 rating and was watched by more than 34 million viewers.

2002

On May 5, 2002, Yamamoto suffered his first loss by TKO to Stephen Palling. As Yamamoto shot in for a double-leg takedown, Palling countered with a knee, opening a huge cut to Yamamoto's face. Though Yamamoto succeeded in slamming Palling, blood began pouring out of the cut and the referee stopped the fight. The doctors determined that Yamamoto was unable to continue and Palling was declared the winner.

2001

Yamamoto made his professional mixed martial arts debut on March 2, 2001 against Masato Shiozawa at Shooto - To The Top 2, where he won by unanimous decision. He would go on to win his next two fights, both by TKO in the first round.

1977

Norifumi Yamamoto (山本 徳郁 , Yamamoto Norifumi, March 15, 1977 – September 18, 2018) was a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competed in the bantamweight division of the UFC. 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 became the K-1 Hero's 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion in December, 2005 after defeating Genki Sudo via a controversial TKO due to punches.

1972

Yamamoto came from a wrestling family. His father Ikuei Yamamoto represented Japan at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich and his sisters Miyuu Yamamoto and Seiko both won 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). During that time he lived and received training from Townsend and Tricia Saunders. He also trained briefly under Choi Mu Bae. At the age of 21, Yamamoto made a transition from wrestling to mixed martial arts despite his father's opinion that MMA isn't a real sport. His first trainer in the sport was Enson Inoue, fiancé of Yamamoto's sister at the time.