Yusuke Yachi’s Touching Tribute to ‘Kid’ Yamamoto

Rizin Confessions No. 27 shines the spotlight on lightweight competitor Yusuke Yachi, who has been booked opposite Johnny Case at Rizin Fighting Federation 14 on Dec. 31 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Yachi remains part of the Krazy Bee camp made famous by Norifumi Yamamoto, who died of cancer in September. While the YouTube program begins with some footage promoting the Darrion Caldwell-Kyoji Horiguchi title fight, the tone shifts to Yachi and his relationship with Yamamoto.

Yachi was on a five-fight winning streak before he lost to Luiz Gustavo Felix dos Santos at Rizin 12 in August -- around the same time Yamamoto announced via Instagram that he had been diagnosed with…