Popular maegashira Endo pulled out of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday due to a knee injury.

The fifth-ranked wrestler damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he defeated Shohozan for his fourth win on Thursday. He will require two months rest.

The injury layoff means Endo, who is not looking at surgery, drops to the lower ranks of the top makuuchi division for the summer basho in May.

"Obviously we are assuming that he (Endo) will wrestle in May, but basically we want (the knee) to heal properly," said Endo's stablemaster Oitekaze.

It is the second time Endo has pulled out of a tournament.