Is Norifumi Yamamoto Living or Dead?

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Is Japanese martial artist Norifumi Yamamoto dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Botty Snyder

Updated 18 March 2023

Image info

Credit	Rorybowman (Extracted from scan and enhanced in Photoshop by Rory Bowman, background removed by Jdcollins13)
License	pd
Desc	"The Wrestlers," statue from Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. Marble (?) reproduction of 3rd century bronze statue.
Usage	Public domain

Image info/credit

Japanese martial artist

Norifumi Yamamoto is ...

Dead

Born	15 March 1977 in Kawasaki
Died	18 September 2018 in Tokyo
Age	41 years, 6 months
Cause	stomach cancer

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	Japan
Father	Ikuei Yamamoto
Sibling	Seiko Yamamoto and Miyū Yamamoto
Occupation	mixed martial artist, kickboxer and amateur wrestler
Height	1.63m (5'4")
Weight	61kg (134.5lbs)
Twitter username	KB_official
Instagram username	gakus
Sport	mixed martial arts

About Norifumi Yamamoto

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto was a Japanese mixed martial artist born on March 15, 1977. He was a pioneer in the sport, known for his explosive striking and grappling skills. Yamamoto began his career in wrestling, winning numerous national and international titles before transitioning to MMA in 2002.

Yamamoto quickly made a name for himself in the Japanese MMA scene, competing in promotions such as K-1, HERO'S, and DREAM. He was known for his aggressive style and knockout power, earning him a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the sport.

In addition to his MMA career, Yamamoto also competed in professional wrestling and kickboxing. He was a well-rounded athlete, with a background in multiple martial arts disciplines.

Tragically, Yamamoto was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and passed away on September 18, 2018, at the age of 41. His death was a shock to the MMA community, and he was mourned by fans and fellow fighters alike.

Yamamoto's legacy lives on, as he inspired a generation of Japanese fighters and left a lasting impact on the sport of MMA. He will always be remembered as a true warrior and a legend in the world of martial arts.

References:

- "Norifumi Yamamoto." Sherdog, www.sherdog.com/fighter/Norifumi-Yamamoto-1203.

- "Norifumi Yamamoto, Japanese MMA Pioneer, Dies at 41." MMA Fighting, 18 Sept. 2018, www.mmafighting.com/2018/9/18/17877670/norifumi-yamamoto-japanese-mma-pioneer-dies-at-41.

About Death

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.