Norifumi Yamamoto

Quick Hits: “Kid” Yamamoto to Added to K-1 Max, Hallman Gets New Foe & More

Here are your quick hits for the afternoon of June 18, 2009.

— Former pound-for-pound phenom Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto will return to action a little less than two months after suffering his first professional MMA loss in seven years at K-1’s “World MAX 2009” event on July 13 in a kickboxing bout. “Kid” will be fighting Jae hee Cheon in a three-round matchup. Other notable MMA fighters competing include Tatsuya Kawajiri and Atsushi Yamamoto. [Japan-MMA.com]

— Longtime veteran Dennis Hallman will now be facing training partner Justin Davis in a catch-weight bout at tomorrow night’s “Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg” event at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. Hallman was originally slated to take on Cedric Marks, who was forced out of the bout after reportedly competing this past weekend and acquiring a medical suspension because of it. A lightweight bout between Jorge Gurgel and Conor Heun will also now be contested at a catch-weight of 160 lbs. [MMA Junkie]

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UFC 94 Notes: Penn Set to File Complaint With NSAC Over GSP Greasing

If you thought that the war between Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn was over, think again. Penn’s camp has informed Sherdog.com that they intend to file a formal complaint with the Nevada State Athletic Commission after officials spotted one of St. Pierre’s cornermen allegedly rubbed Vaseline on his back in between the first and second and then the second and third rounds.

“We are not trying to make excuses, but the NSAC needs to protect the fighters,” Penn told Sherdog.com via text message. “They never notified us or completely wiped his back with water and towels.”

Various reports are circulating that following the conclusion of the first round, Phil Nurse, who has been working St. Pierre’s corner for a number of years, was caught by someone sitting at ringside rubbing Vaseline on St. Pierre’s back and shoulders. It has yet to be confirmed that this person was former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, but “The Iceman” was the first to inform UFC President Dana White of the incident after the conclusion of the fight, which St. Pierre won via fourth-round doctor’s stoppage.

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Japanese Notebook: DREAM Releases 2009 Schedule

DREAM parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group today revealed the promotion’s schedule for the new year, with DREAM’s first show being held on March 8 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and featuring the opening rounds of the organization’s inaugural featherweight and welterweight grand prix tournaments.

In total, DREAM will put on seven total shows in ‘09. Solidified dates for shows include April 5 at Nippon Gaishi Hall and December 31 at the Saitama Super Arena for the annual year-end K-1 Dynamite show. DREAM officials are also planning to hold shows in May, July, September, and October.

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Yamamoto Injured; Withdraws from DREAM.5

Pound-for-pound phenom Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto has reportedly withdrawn from his scheduled featherweight bout against California native Joseph Benavidez at Monday’s DREAM.5 event in Japan after suffering a knee injury during a recent training session.

The news comes from Jordan Breen of Sherdog.com, who reports that Yamamoto could be sidelined for up to six months after a failed flying knee attempt during a recent sparring session caused an awkward landing and the sound of a pop inside of Kid’s right leg. An MRI shows that Yamamoto suffered a partial tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament, however it won’t be determined whether surgery is necessary or not until sometime next week.

DREAM event producer Keiichi Sasahara has stated that he is currently looking for a late replacement opponent for Benavidez. One option Sasahara has is matching up Benavidez and former DEEP title challenger Takeshi Yamazaki. Hideo Tokoro, Yamazaki’s scheduled opponent at the event, was hospitalized earlier this week after suffering a back injury in a minor car accident, leaving his participation in doubt.

Monday’s injury-plagued card also saw former UFC and PRIDE heavyweight contender Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic bow out after having to undergo knee and elbow surgery that will put him out of action until this fall. His opponent, Jerome LeBanner was also forced to pull out of a proposed bout against fellow former kickboxer Mark Hunt after LeBanner was injured during a recent K-1 rules bout against Semmy Schilt.

Yamamoto to Return at DREAM in June

Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, widely considered as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts today, will return to action as part of DREAM’s next scheduled event on June 15th.

DREAM officials confirmed Yamamoto’s participation during last night’s event broadcast.

Yamamoto originally informed the Japanese media last month that he hoped to return to the ring this summer. His contract with Fight Entertainment Group will have him competing inside the confines of DREAM exclusively. The 31-year-old has been with FEG since leaving Shooto in 2003.

While Yamamoto remains unsure of which weight he will fight at, it’s expected that he will take his talents to DREAM’s newly created featherweight division. Yamamoto last stopped World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Rani Yahya with strikes at K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! on New Year’s Eve.

HT: Gryphon Japan

Gomi, Yamamoto Eye Summer Returns

Former PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi and pound for pound phenom Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto have both reportedly informed the Japanese media of their respective intentions to return to action this summer.

The news comes from Sherdog’s Jordan Breen in his latest edition of the Koubousen Companion.

Gomi stated that he planned to compete at World Victory Road’s upcoming third “Sengoku” event on June 8th while in attendance at this past weekend’s All Japan Combat Wrestling National Championships and plans to begin training again later this month.

The 29 year-old returned to action after a year of inactivity, stopping Duane Ludwig at WVR’s inaugural event last month. Ludwig suffered a cut on the bridge of his nose that forced ringside doctors to prevent him from continuing.

Meanwhile Yamamoto informed the media that he hoped to return to the ring in June or July. His contract with Fight Entertainment Group will have “Kid” competing inside the confines of DREAM. He remains unsure of which weight he will fight at.

Yamamoto last stopped World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Rani Yahya with strikes at K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! on New Year’s Eve.

Yahya Protest Shot Down

Fight Entertainment Group, the parent company of K-1 Hero’s, has announced that Rani Yahya’s protest made in hopes of overturning his loss to Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto at K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! has been denied.

Yahya filed the protest last month following his TKO loss to Yamamoto at the event. Yahya stated that a pair of soccer kicks delivered by Yamamoto caused the stoppage and that the decision should have been overturned due to the kicks being illegal under the official rules of the promotion..

However Hero’s official Gen Isono announced that referee Minoru Toyonaga halted the bout after Yahya crumpled to the ground following a Yamamoto left hook and that soccer kicks had no involvement with the stoppage since they came after the punch had already landed.

K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! Live Results

We will be going live at 1:00 AM EST with live results of K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!!, which is taking place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan

The event is headlined by a main event between long-time Japanese veterans Kazushi Sakuraba and Masakatsu Funaki. Bob Sapp, “Kid” Yamamoto, Melvin Manhoef, and Ikuhisa Minowa will all be in action as well as annual Dynamite!! participants Bobby Ologun and Kiyoshi Tamura.

Be sure to leave comments throughout the morning.

Live results are shown after the jump.

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Break It Down: Yarennoka! & K-1 Dynamite!!

John Chandler here again, breaking down Yarennoka! and K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! fight-by-fight, including detailed predictions along the way.

Yarennoka! features the return of Fedor Emelianenko as he takes on K-1 kickboxer Hong Man Choi. The undercard includes Gilbert Melendez going up against Mitsuhiro Ishida and Kazuo Misaki battling with Yoshihiro Akiyama.

K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! features an astounding total of 13 fights - 7 MMA bouts and 6 kickboxing matches. (I’ll only be previewing the MMA fights) The event is headlined by a main event between long-time Japanese veterans Kazushi Sakuraba and Masakatsu Funaki. Bob Sapp, “Kid” Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Tamura, Melvin Manhoef, and Ikuhisa Minowa will all be in action.

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K-1 Dynamite!! Pre-Fight Conference Notes

When Alfred Tennyson wrote “ring out the old, ring in the new,” the English poet was referring to the pealing of church bells to mark the beginning of a new year. It is also a Japanese tradition to strike the temple bell on December 31, but these days Tennyson’s phrase could just as easily be applied to the ringside bell at the Dynamite!! New Year’s Eve fight-sport extravaganza.

Over the last five years, K-1 Premium Dynamite!! has become one of the most widely-watched television productions in Japan, with estimates of up to 30 million viewers. This is fight-sport entertainment for the entire family, and tomorrow’s lineup is designed for maximum appeal. The evening’s 15 fights will feature wily veterans and wide-eyed teens; popular television “tarento” and foreign behemoths; and yes, more than a few match ups aimed at martial arts purists.

Seven bouts will be fought under Hero’s Rules (mixed martial arts), and eight under K-1 Rules (stand-up).

The Dynamite!! 2007 fighters met with the media this afternoon at the Osaka Imperial Hotel, to share their thoughts in advance of tomorrow night’s Kyocera Dome showdown.

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