Yokozuna Terunofuji overcame No. 1 maegashira Takanosho to secure his second win after three days at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.
Five rank-and-file wrestlers kept their perfect record at Dolphins Arena but both demotion-threatened ozeki, Shodai (0-3) and Mitakeumi (1-2), suffered defeats as they bid to keep their status at the sport's highest rank with a winning record of eight wins or more.
Takanosho (1-2) backed off initially under the pressure from Terunofuji but the rank-and-filer's nimble movements kept him in the tie, with his ensuing counterattack forcing the grand champion to the edge of the raised ring.
But Terunofuji stood firm to recover his ground and grabbed an overarm belt hold with his left hand. Takanosho swiveled trying to execute an underarm throw with his right hand, but Terunofuji persevered and floored his opponent, who challenged him for the summer meet title in May, with an overarm throw.
Ozeki Takakeisho (2-1) ruthlessly handed the meet's first defeat to No. 2 Kotonowaka (2-1), who came into the encounter following back-to-back wins over the other two ozeki, Shodai and Mitakeumi.
The stocky ozeki's sharp opening charge forced Kotonowaka toward the edge before a strong right-handed slap to the face left the rank-and-filer stunned, allowing Takakeisho to easily push him out in the follow-up.
Things look bleak for Shodai after he was pushed out from the back by No. 1 Kiribayama (2-1) to remain without a win.
Shodai made a decent start and engaged in a brief standstill, but Kiribayama swung his right arm to knock the ozeki off balance and claimed a credible win.
Another "kadoban" ozeki, Mitakeumi, had no answer to the powerful thrusting attacks from komusubi Abi (2-1) as he fell to a push-out defeat.
Abi's ferocious drives left Mitakeumi on the back foot straight off the initial charge and the ozeki was chased around before getting shoved out.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (1-2) won his first bout of the meet by fending off No. 3 Ura. Wakatakakage kept his center of gravity low to deal with his smaller opposition and thwarted a late neck-throw attempt from the trickster to push him down.
Sekiwake Daieisho (1-2) looked set for another defeat but his last-ditch slap-down was enough to floor No. 4 Wakamotoharu, who had the better of the preceding shoving exchanges.
No. 2 Ichinojo is ranked highest among the five wrestlers with a perfect record after three days, the Mongolian-born giant needing time but fully using his physical advantage to force out komusubi Hoshoryu (1-2).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Terunofuji earns 1st win as Shodai loses again in Nagoya
Sumo: Abi upsets Terunofuji on opening day of Nagoya meet
Sumo: Terunofuji relieved after winning 7th championship
