Sole yokozuna Terunofuji earned a solid win on Tuesday, the third day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament a day after an upset defeat knocked him from the leading group.
Unable to get a belt hold from the get-go, the yokozuna locked up No. 2 maegashira Kotonowaka's arms, and used his leverage to force him backward. Kotonowaka (1-2) tried to slip away and outflank the yokozuna, but Terunofuji kept his opponent squarely in front of him and shoved him out.
Mitakeumi, wrestling as demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki in need of eight wins here to preserve his spot in the sport's second-highest rank, suffered his first defeat.
No. 2 Meisei (2-1) wrapped up the ozeki's arms with his opening charge, forced him to the straw and shoved him out.
Mitakeumi's defeat left six rank-and-file maegashira wrestlers leading the way with three wins at the 15-day tourney at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ozeki Shodai (1-2) suffered his second straight defeat, outclassed and forced out by much-smaller No. 1 Midorifuji (1-2).
"I was so, so nervous, but my stablemaster told me, 'Nervous or not, just wrestle for all you're worth,' and I was able to just react without thinking," Midorifuji said.
Ozeki Takakeisho won his second straight after an opening day loss, driving Tobizaru (1-2) back to the straw before a powerful thrust sent the tricky No. 1 flying backward into the seating area.
New sekiwake Hoshoryu (2-1) toppled July's champion, komusubi Ichinojo (1-2) with an outer leg trip. Ichinojo fended off the first trip attempt from Hoshoryu, but could not keep the sekiwake in front of him.
The nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu, Hoshoryu continued to maneuver to Ichinojo's side and brought him down with his second effort.
Sekiwake Daiesho fell to an embarrassing second defeat, when the rotund 1.75-meter No. 2 Ura (2-1) tricked him into launching himself out of the ring. Ura lured Daieisho to defeat by retreating backward and stepping aside when the sekiwake charged forward at full speed.
Wakatakakage fell to 0-3 in his fourth tournament as a sekiwake, forced out by new Mongolian komusubi Kiribayama (2-1).
Makuuchi division debutant Hiradoumi improved to 3-0, the 22-year-old No. 16 shoving out veteran No. 14 Yutakayama (0-3).
