No. 3 maegashira Tamawashi and No. 8 Hokutofuji remained unbeaten through six days at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday, when yokozuna Terunofuji suffered his third defeat.
Tamawashi went head-on with Takakeisho (4-2) before moving slightly to his right and swiftly slapping the ozeki down at Ryogoku Kokugikan, continuing the best start of his career in the top-tier makuuchi division.
No. 8 Hokutofuji also stayed perfect after a hectic bout with No. 10 Nishikifuji (4-2). Following a heavy clash of heads, Hokutofuji kept charging forward and chased his counterpart off the ring.
Following Thursday's defeat to Tamawashi, Terunofuji (3-3) was forced out by No. 3 Ura (4-2).
Terunofuji kept his distance from the stocky trickster and his physical superiority gave the grand champion the edge. An ill-timed pull-down attempt, however, allowed Ura to charge forward and earn his first career win against the yokozuna.
No. 13 Oho (5-1) was surprisingly hapless in his first defeat, to makuuchi division debutant Mitoryu (3-3).
The No. 16 slapped Oho's face and grabbed a left overarm belt hold straight away before throwing the grandson of former yokozuna Taiho to the sandy surface.
No. 4 and former ozeki Takayasu thrust out No. 1 Midorifuji (2-4), and No. 6 Wakamotoharu forced out No. 7 Onosho (2-4) to join Oho one win back of the leaders at 5-1.
Demotion-threatened ozeki Mitakeumi (3-3) drove Kotonowaka (3-3) straight to the edge but the No. 2 maegashira kept his left toe on the straw bales and secured a last-ditch slap-down win. Mitakeumi needs eight wins at the 15-day tourney to retain his ozeki rank.
Ozeki Shodai (1-5) withstood repeated charges from No. 2 Meisei (3-3) and pushed the rank-and-filer to the edge, but lacked a finishing touch and was pushed out to his fifth straight defeat as all three ozeki lost their bouts.
Sekiwake Hoshoryu (4-2) tried several slap-down attempts before being slapped down himself at the edge by No. 1 Tobizaru (3-3).
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (3-3) won his third straight bout, applying pressure throughout and negating a late armlock-throw attempt from komusubi Ichinojo (2-4), and July's Nagoya champion, in a force-out win.
Komusubi Kiribayama (4-2) overpowered sekiwake Daieisho (1-5) and thrust him out.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Unbeaten Tamawashi hands Terunofuji 2nd defeat
Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji survives scrape to remain 1 win back
Sumo: Former yokozuna Hakuho to hold retirement ceremony in January
