Despite recent losses, UFC 144’s ‘Kid’ Yamamoto says winning a title is only goal

TOKYO – Despite fighting above his natural weight class, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto won 17 of his first 18 fights and had a top-five world ranking.

But since a near-two-year layoff due to injuries, he’s just 1-4 since his 2009 return, which included rece…

TOKYO – Despite fighting above his natural weight class, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto won 17 of his first 18 fights and had a top-five world ranking.

But since a near-two-year layoff due to injuries, he’s just 1-4 since his 2009 return, which included recent back-to-back losses in the UFC.

Despite the setbacks, Yamamoto said his lone goal remains the same: to win UFC gold.