Sekiwake Mitakeumi won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, beating yokozuna Terunofuji to capture his third career championship and earn consideration for promotion to ozeki.
Needing a win to avoid a three-way championship playoff with the yokozuna and No. 6 maegashira Abi, Mitakeumi defeated Terunofuji (11-4) for just the fifth time in 17 career bouts, forcing him out for his 13th win in the 15-day tourney at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The yokozuna, dealing with more pain than usual in his surgically repaired knees, charged forward for a left-handed grip on his opponent's belt but came up empty, only for the sekiwake to latch onto his right arm.