Welcome to a special edition of Missed Fists where Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee take a look back at some of the best highlights from the career of Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 41 due to stomach cancer.
Yamamoto is an ideal candidate for a “hidden gems” tribute, given that many fans in North America did not witness his prime, which included a stunning 17-1 stretch from 2001-2007 that established him as a minor deity in his home country of Japan and unquestionably made him one of the greatest fighters in the world at 155 pounds and under.