Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto defeated Kazuyuki Miyata via spectacular flying knee knock out in just four seconds into their Hero’s 5 clash. It remains the fastest stoppage due to strikes ever recorded in a major MMA promotion.
Yamamoto, knowing that Miayata was a former Olympian in the sport of wrestling, predicted that his opponent would come out aggressively looking for a takedown in the opening seconds of the bout. He countered the ducking Miyata with a perfectly placed leaping left knee to the head which instantly put the decorated wrestler out cold on the canvas.
The Japan Times spoke to Yamamoto about the stunning victory:
Norifumi Kid Yamamoto still gets asked about the time he knocked out an opponent in four seconds with a flying knee to the head.
He managed that feat shortly after the opening bell for his fight against Kazuyuki Miyata, a former Olympic wrestler who on that night was the unfortunate soul being kneed in the face, during Hero’s 5 in 2006 at Yoyogi Gymnasium. It was the fastest knockout ever in a major MMA circuit.
That was an amazing fight, Yamamoto (18-6, one no contest overall, 0-3 UFC) told The Japan Times over the phone from Los Angeles, where he’s preparing for his bout against Roman Salazar (9-3, 0-1) at UFC 184 on Saturday (Sunday in Japan) at the Staples Center. The 37-year-old MMA legend is hoping to give his fans another amazing result to talk about as he makes his return to the sport following a three-year absence.
I want to show them that I can fight as well as I could when I was at my best, Yamamoto said.
Fans have waited for a long time to see Yamamoto at his best. He’d fought his way into the MMA stratosphere before a brief hiatus in 2007, after which he dealt with setbacks stemming from injuries and, more recently, age. Even so, his heyday isn’t so far in the past that there won’t be a large segment of fans hoping to see him deliver a vintage performance and earn his first win in UFC. UFC has given me a great chance, Yamamoto said. I want to live up to their expectation.
source: japantimes.co.jp
