Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto
Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto was a pioneer of the lower weight classes in MMA. In this picture, Yamamoto of Japan walks to his corner after an illegal eye-poke in his bantamweight bout with Roman Salazar during the UFC 184 event at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 28, 2015. Harry How/Getty Images

MMA legend Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto died Monday, his team Krazy Bee announced on Twitter. He was 41.

The cause of death was not revealed, however, Yamamoto revealed last month on Instagram that he was battling cancer, though much was not known beyond that diagnosis.

The Kawasaki native leaves a legacy as one of the pioneers of the lower weight classes in MMA, having competed as a bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight for the likes of Shooto, K-1, Hero's, DREAM and the UFC.

Yamamoto (18-6-2) notably won 14 straight fights from 2002 to 2007 and holds wins over the likes of ONE Championship bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes, Royler Gracie, Genki Sudo, Caol Uno and Jeff Curran among others.

He finally got his chance at the UFC in 2011 but would go winless in all four of his appearances, with three losses and one no contest. He last competed against Roman Salazar at UFC 184 in February 2015.

The likes of UFC president Dana White and many others from the world of MMA from fighters, promoters, journalists, coaches and fans all mourned his death on social media as many reflected on his legacy.

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