Unbeaten Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji put on another sumo clinic to dismantle ozeki Kotoshogiku and maintain his slender lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
The summer champion proved to be an immovable object as Kotoshogiku (8-3) repeatedly tried to belly him toward the edge of the ring at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
After soaking up Kotoshogiku’s attacks, Terunofuji timed his move to perfection and used a yoritaoshi frontal crush out technique to score an 11th win.
Twelfth-ranked maegashira Ikioi stayed one win back, while Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu bounced back from his second loss by quickly slapping down sekiwake Tochiozan (6-5) and is at 9-2 alongside No. 8 maegashira Toyonoshima.
Ikioi stayed in the thick of the title race when he broke up a stalemate and slapped down Chinese-born No. 14 maegashira Sokokurai, who dropped to 7-4.
Ozeki Kisenosato (8-3) had his hands full against Takarafuji (4-7) but recovered from back-to-back defeats by squashing the No. 4 maegashira after an overarm throw to secure a majority of wins.
Struggling ozeki Goeido used a sotogake outside leg trip to floor fifth-ranked Tamawashi (3-8) and register his fifth win.
Resurgent Tochinoshin (6-5) scored his fourth consecutive win after three straight defeats, the Georgian komusubi using brute strength to force out Mongolian skyscraper Ichinojo (5-6)
Top-ranked maegashira Yoshikaze returned to winning ways when he took down komusubi Okinoumi (4-7) with a textbook beltless arm throw to improve to 7-4.
Yoshikaze has scored a string of upsets at this tournament, with victories over two yokozuna, two ozeki and two sekiwake.
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