Ikioi met Kakuryu with a firm tachiai, there are no games with this guy, and quickly had the yokozuna pushed toward the edge. Quickly, after Kakuryu committed to a counter charge, Ikioi parried, letting the yokozuna fall forward to the clay. Very well executed hikiotoshi. Tomorrow’s battle with Yoshikaze will be an event. Keep this one on your schedule; two no-nonsense dudes eager to bring the fury with 100% effort.

Hakuho and Kotoshogiku still share the lead with Takayasu and Okinoumi* at 5-0. Harumafuji leads a crop of maegashira still in the hunt as the rest of the ozeki have been stumbling out of the gate. That crop includes, Kotoyuki who’s bringing the funk, even with his short, T-Rex arms. He blasted Ichinojo who still seems exhausted by those marathons with Terunofuji last year. Speaking of the ozeki, he’s is in no condition to continue but undoubtedly will. If he doesn’t withdraw tomorrow it will be torture watching him battle to an 8th win, late in the tournament.

*(The gyoji just pointed in the wrong direction and gave the kenshokin to the wrong guy.)