Rank-and-file wrestler Ura's effort to break a stalemate against ozeki Kotozakura cost him the bout and the sole lead Saturday, the seventh day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
In a clash preceded by nearly a minute of posturing and stares, Kotozakura made a cautious start against the diminutive No. 4 maegashira with a huge bag of tricks, and it nearly cost him.
Ura drove Kotozakura back to the ring's edge but could neither grapple him out nor topple him over. In an effort to end the deadlock, Ura, who had a death grip on the ozeki's right arm, tried to use that hold to pull Kotozakura down.
The ozeki, however, lunged forward at precisely the right instant, sending Ura reeling back and into an untenable position at the straw bales. Kotozakura (5-2) is now one win back of the leaders of the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The loss left Ura tied at 6-1 with komusubi Onosato and three other maegashira -- No. 1 Daieisho, No. 10 Shonannoumi and No. 16 Takarafuji.
In a bout between two of sumo's rising stars that drew a huge roar from the crowd, No. 1 maegashira Atamifuji (2-5) pressed Onosato back to the straw bales but was unable to force him over and instead fell victim to a pulling underarm throw and hit the sandy surface a second before the komusubi.
Former sekiwake Daieisho took advantage of a failed pull-down attempt. He stumbled forward but somehow stayed on his feet to thrust out second-ranked maegashira Hiradoumi (2-5), who could not backpedal out of the way.
Takarafuji won a clash between lower-ranked maegashira wrestlers despite a poor showing when No. 13 Mitoryu's knee buckled, and he fell to his sixth loss, while Shonannoumi threw fellow No. 10 maegashira Kinbozan (4-3).
In the day's final bout, ozeki Hoshoryu (4-3) fell a win further off the pace after losing by hand pull down to No. 4 maegashira Oho (3-4).
Ozeki Kirishima (1-6) and sekiwake Wakamotoharu (3-4) both lost by default after pulling out injured on Saturday. Of nine wrestlers in the sport's uppermost four ranks, only four competed Saturday.
Kirishima is dealing with severe neck pain and will be demoted to sekiwake for the next tournament in July. Wakamotoharu injured his right leg during his Friday loss to Daieisho, but he may return to action if his condition improves.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Komusubi Onosato wins heavyweight battle with ozeki Kotozakura
Sumo: Onosato consigns struggling ozeki Kirishima to 4th defeat
Sumo: Young gun Atamifuji too strong for ozeki Kirishima on Day 3
