Demetrious Johnson vs Norifumi Yamamoto — Fight recap

Demetrious Johnson defeated Norifumi Yamamoto by unanimous decision over three rounds at WFC 26 on February 5, 2011. Johnson's wrestling prowess defined the matchup, landing 10 of 15 takedown attempts (66%) while controlling the action for 3:45 of fight time.

Though his striking efficiency remained modest at 37% (38 of 102 significant strikes), Johnson's grappling dominance was complete—Yamamoto managed zero takedowns on two attempts and accumulated only 26 seconds of control. Yamamoto's striking output lagged considerably with just 16 of 65 significant strikes (24%), leaving him unable to establish range or momentum against Johnson's relentless pressure.

The bout showcased Johnson's developing wrestling-based approach, a style that would become his signature as he rose through the flyweight ranks. The victory marked another step in Johnson's ascent toward title contention in the emerging 125-pound division.