Yokozuna Hakuho outflanked nemesis Kisenosato to capture his 27th career title with a day to spare at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday.
The Mongolian won his fourth consecutive championship, moving him within four of yokozuna great Chiyonofuji's hallowed mark of 31 career titles. Hakuho is alone in third place on the all-time list behind Chiyonofuji and Taiho at 32.
Hakuho was left with a bloody gash and bump above his left eye in the mash-up as he improved to 13-1. Kisenosato, a one-time candidate for sumo's highest rank, fell to 10-4. It is the second time that Hakuho has won four straight tournaments since he went on a seven-basho winning spree from the 2010 spring meet.