‘Kid’ Yamamoto Draws UFC Newcomer Uyenoyama for UFC on Fox
Bantamweight slugger Norifumi
“Kid” Yamamoto will make his sophomore trip to the Octagon
against another veteran of the Japanese ring, Darren
Uyenoyama, on the UFC’s Nov. 12 card.
UFC officials announced Tuesday that Yamamoto (Pictured) and Uyenoyama have agreed to square off at UFC on Fox 1, which takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The headlining heavyweight title bout between champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos is the only matchup currently slated to be broadcast, though other fights could air in the event of a fast finish. Regardless, the undercard is expected to be viewable in its entirety through either Spike TV or Facebook.
Once ranked amongst the world’s top 145-pounders, Yamamoto has hit a rough patch of late, dropping three of four bouts since returning from knee surgery in mid-2009. The 34-year-old Krazy Bee leader notched one of his trademark knockouts again Federico Lopez in Dream last May, but faltered in his February UFC debut, a unanimous decision loss to current top contender Demetrious Johnson.
Uyenoyama, 31, was rumored to make his first Octagon appearance at UFC 134, but his bout with Raphael Assuncao never materialized, reportedly due to contractual issues with Shooto. The Californian’s most recent bout came last September in the long-running Japanese promotion, where the “Bone Crusher” punched out then-Shooto 132-pound world champion Shuichiro Katsumura in a non-title affair. A nine-year veteran of the sport, Uyenoyama is perhaps best known to North American fans for his June 2008 thriller against Hideo Tokoro in Dream.
UFC officials announced Tuesday that Yamamoto (Pictured) and Uyenoyama have agreed to square off at UFC on Fox 1, which takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The headlining heavyweight title bout between champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos is the only matchup currently slated to be broadcast, though other fights could air in the event of a fast finish. Regardless, the undercard is expected to be viewable in its entirety through either Spike TV or Facebook.
Once ranked amongst the world’s top 145-pounders, Yamamoto has hit a rough patch of late, dropping three of four bouts since returning from knee surgery in mid-2009. The 34-year-old Krazy Bee leader notched one of his trademark knockouts again Federico Lopez in Dream last May, but faltered in his February UFC debut, a unanimous decision loss to current top contender Demetrious Johnson.
Uyenoyama, 31, was rumored to make his first Octagon appearance at UFC 134, but his bout with Raphael Assuncao never materialized, reportedly due to contractual issues with Shooto. The Californian’s most recent bout came last September in the long-running Japanese promotion, where the “Bone Crusher” punched out then-Shooto 132-pound world champion Shuichiro Katsumura in a non-title affair. A nine-year veteran of the sport, Uyenoyama is perhaps best known to North American fans for his June 2008 thriller against Hideo Tokoro in Dream.
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