All eyes are on Kirishima and Atamifuji as the two will go head-to-head today. While the winner will not secure the yusho outright, it will give him a precious one-bout lead going into the final day. Two wins in a row will seal the deal. We will have no weak, 11-win yusho here in Fukuoka.

Makuuchi

Daiamami (8-6) defeated Tohakuryu (5-9): Daiamami dominant. We do not often hear those words. But Daiamami was unfazed by Tohakuryu’s tsuppari and drove forward, shoving Tohakuryu to the edge. As Tohakuryu turned to retreat, Daiamami closed, pushing his opponent out from behind. Okuridashi.

Oho (7-7) defeated Churanoumi (8-6). Oho’s vicious tsuppari took off Churanoumi’s bandaid and forced Churanoumi to the edge. Oho then wrapped up Churanoumi and drove him over the tawara. Kimedashi.

Sadanoumi (7-7) defeated Roga (4-10). Roga plowed through the dohyo as Sadanoumi shifted and pulled, allowing Roga’s full head of steam to carry him into the front row of spectators. Tsukiotoshi.

Nishikifuji (5-9) defeated Hiradoumi (8-6). Good tachiai from Nishikifuji forced Hiradoumi back. Hiradoumi slammed into Nishikifuji to regain position in the center of the ring. Just as Hiradoumi returned for another slam, Nishikifuji shifted and thrust Hiradoumi to the dohyo surface. Tsukiotoshi.

Ichiyamamoto (10-4) defeated Ryuden (9-5). Ichiyamamoto never let Ryuden inside. He fought hard to keep Ryuden off his belt and carefully navigated the tawara to stay on the dohyo. As he pulled away from Ryuden, he thrust down on Ryuden’s head forcing him to lose balance and step out of the ring. Hatakikomi.

Myogiryu (5-9) defeated Kitanowaka (5-9). Myogiryu pressed forward and drove Kitanowaka out. Oshidashi.

Tsurugisho (9-5) defeated Mitakeumi (8-6). Mitakeumi got going a little early. Matta, reset. Tsurugisho lifted Mitakeumi and hefted him clear from the dohyo. He couldn’t carry him completely over the bales but drove forward and forced him out. This might have shortened Tsurugisho’s career, though, as his knee was clearly causing pain after the bout. Yorikiri.

Takarafuji (6-8) defeated Endo (5-9). Takarafuji locked in on Endo’s maemitsu with the left and got a good over-arm hold with his right. Then he pulled up, forcing Endo to fall forward to the ground. Endo needs to work on that ottsuke. He tried hard to keep Takarafuji off, but Takara-stronk. And apparently Takarafuji is stronker than Endo. Uwatedashinage.

Hokuseiho (7-7) defeated Tomokaze (7-7). Tomokaze didn’t like the timing and reset. Once they got the timing for the tachiai right, Hokuseiho drove forward and forced Tomokaze out. Yorikiri.

Takayasu (9-5) defeated Kinbozan (8-6). Kinbozan injured his arm in the crush between himself and Takayasu, and visibly eased up. Takayasu drove him out, gingerly. Yorikiri. After the bout, Kinbozan was clearly cradling his right arm or shoulder.

Halftime.

Shuffle, shuffle. Sweep, sweep. 
Let’s keep Andy from getting any sleep.

Sumo Kyokai

Tamawashi (9-5) defeated Meisei (3-11). Meisei went for the change of direction but Tamawashi’s been around the block a few times and caught it out. Oshidashi.

Asanoyama (3-4-7) defeated Shodai (5-9). Masayo gave it the good college try. But Asanoyama’s uwatenage is difficult to resist. They’re calling this a force out, yorikiri, but the story of this bout seemed to be Asanoyama’s left-hand over-arm grip and the rotation that he got as he yanked Shodai over to the bales.

Ura (7-7) defeated Gonoyama (7-7). Gonoyama put everything into his nodowa at the beginning of the bout. But Ura weathered the attack and pressed forward. As he pressed forward, he stayed low and wrapped up Gonoyama’s belt. Proper freaked out by the two-handed grip on his belt, Gonoyama backed away, trying to free himself. Ura gave chase and steered Gonoyama out. Yorikiri.

Tobizaru (7-7) defeated Abi (6-8). Abi pulled and tried to slap Tobizaru down. But Tobizaru impressively remained on his feet and ran Abi out. Oshidashi.

Hokutofuji (5-9) defeated Onosho (3-11). Slapdown. Hokutofuji was pressing up with his left, into Onosho’s right arm to keep Onosho off his belt. But suddenly he lifted that left arm up and brought it down on Onosho’s shoulder, forcing him to the ground. Katasukashi.

Kotonowaka (10-4) defeated Shonannoumi (7-7). Shonannoumi reached in with that right arm to get at Kotonowaka’s belt. But he over-extended. Kotonowaka was able to quickly force Shonannoumi forward to the ground before he, himself, fell to the floor. Tsukiotoshi.

Wakamotoharu (5-9) defeated Nishikigi (6-8). Fascinating belt battle as the two competitors fought to keep each other off the belt. Wakamotoharu was able to get his right hand over Nishikigi’s arm. Nishikigi ran to evade but Wakamotoharu gave chase and forced him over the edge. Yorikiri.

Daieisho (9-5) defeated Takakeisho (9-5). Daieisho power tsuppari. Like a freight train, Daieisho chugged forward into the Ozeki and thrust him out. Takakeisho couldn’t land his own slaps. Tsukidashi.

Hoshoryu (9-5) defeated Midorifuji (9-5). Hoshoryu seized Midorifuji’s belt with his right arm inside. Midorifuji squeezed his left arm inside Hoshoryu’s grip but Hoshoryu rotated and used that grip to throw Midorifuji onto the tawara. Uwatenage.

Kirishima (12-2) defeated Atamifuji (11-3). Atamifuji’s nerves kick in and he jumps early. Bashful reset. At the tachiai, Atamifuji secured an arm bar on Kirishima’s right arm quickly. As he sought out a grip with the right, Kirishima resisted at first with powerful ottsuke. Then he worked Atamifuji’s shoulder backward so that he could slip his left arm inside Atamifuji’s right. From there Kirishima secured a morozashi, double-inside grip, and soon forced Atamifuji back and out. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Kirishima controls his own destiny. If he wins tomorrow, he will win the title outright. If he falters and Atamifuji regroups, Atamifuji can force a play-off on senshuraku.

• 2敗: Kirishima
• 3敗: Atamifuji

Who doesn’t love Bonus Sumo? Frankly, I don’t love bonus sumo. I love good sumo, and we got it in spades today, up-and-down the banzuke. And there will be heaps of Darwin bouts tomorrow.

Though the yusho-race has focused most attention on these two guys, we still have a whole crop of others fighting for special prizes, rank, and pride. Ichiyamamoto and Midorifuji are fighting well.

There will be concern for Kinbozan and Tsurugisho due to their apparent aggravated injuries. Kinbozan’s arm was caught really awkwardly between himself and Takayasu. It could have been damage to the shoulder, elbow, or arm itself, but the pain was obvious. Tsurugisho impressed us all with his strength by lifting 360-pound Mitakeumi but his knee seemed to scream, “Why did you do that?!?!” We’ll update everyone when we hear more.

The Kyokai has not published the bouts for tomorrow yet but I anticipate Kirishima against Hoshoryu and Atamifuji against Takakeisho. Well, not really. But I do think Kirishima will be paired with an Ozeki for the musubi. I would think they would also put Atamifuji against an Ozeki since he’s in the yusho race and Takakeisho is the only one he hasn’t fought yet. I just think they’d actually prefer T-Rex vs Kirishima in the musubi. But we’ll find out tomorrow.