Yokozuna Kakuryu earned his third straight win on Tuesday and gained some breathing room as all three ozeki were defeated on Day 3 of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
The yokozuna survived a scare against top-ranked maegashira Kotoshogiku (1-2), when the former ozeki's elbow touched down first as Kakuryu's powerful overarm throw flipped both wrestlers onto their topknots.
Among the upper-ranked fighters, only Kakuryu and sekiwake Tochinoshin remain undefeated after three days of action at Ryogoku Kokugikan as upsets overshadowed the stars at sumo's second highest rank.