You know the deal. Running commentary. Let's go.
- Toyonoshima looks like a guy on his way out, but I guess if he's going out, he's taking Kaisei with him. He gets his first win of the tournament.
- First battle of undefeateds as Terutsuyoshi takes on Enho in a duel of 3-0 competitors. Winner keeps their underdog championship hopes alive. Enho gets bum-rushed out of the ring first time, but it was a false start. Same thing happens on the proper start. Terutsuyoshi goes to 4-0.
- Chiyomaru and Yago appear to be going in different directions. Chiyomaru has lost 2 straight since an opening day win, and Yago broke through for win #1 yesterday. After a long drawn out bout, the directions remain the same as Yago gets his second straight win with some effective grabbing of the mawashi.
- Kotoyuki faces Sadanoumi next, and this is a master class of the slap technique. Sadanoumi had no chance against this, and flew into the front row. Once again, it's take a Sumo Wrestler home night.
- Next up, it's Kagayaki vs Nishikigi. Both could use the win, especially Nishikigi. Like yesterday, Nishikigi gets the win thanks to an effective reversal. Looks like he's pretty good at turning the tables. Both fighters move to 2-2.
- Newly promoted Takagenji is 3-0 and can establish himself further as a contender with a victory today over 1-2 Tochiozan. Tochiozan has had a make-koshi in 3 straight bashos, going 15-30 combined. No wonder he's crashed from Maegashira 1 to Maegashira 12. Good action here as they both engage in some hard-hitting slaps. The end comes when Tochiozan uses his cunning and lets Takagenji get a bit too excited...but hold up, we have a mono-ii! After review, the ruling in the ring stands. Seems like the review was to make sure that Takagenji hit the ground first before Tochiozan put his foot out of the ring. Good ruling.
- A pair of wrestlers coming off a loss now, it's Shohozan and Kotoeko. Shohozan charges off the blocks, and in the end the aggression made the difference, as he does enough to make Kotoeko slip and go down. Nice split though by Kotoeko. Who says Sumo Wrestlers aren't flexible?
- Daishoho needs a win badly. Okinoumi's coming off of a win. In this case, Daishoho wanted it just a little more and in a close call, he gets the duke. Both fighters now 1-3.
- Myogiru and Onosho are on differing patterns. Myogiru's form is W-L-W, while Onosho's on L-W-L. Something's gotta give, because the referee can't win. Myogiru with the big rush at the beginning, but he may have overdone it. A mono-ii is needed here! Did Myogiru hit his head before Onosho's foot hit the outside? The judges review, and they decide that like the 2000 US Presidential Election, it's just too close to call. We're gonna do this again!
- Rematch time! Same tactics, but this time Myogiru's rush works as he gets Onosho's foot out before he falls down! Tough spill for Onosho onto the ground, but he looks like he's okay. Turns out both patterns are broken.
- Another of the undefeateds, 3-0 Tomokaze, takes to the ring against 1-2 Shimanoumi. A nice display of forceful slaps as Tomokaze easily makes quick work of Shimanoumi and goes to 4-0.
- Kotoshogiku is also 3-0 and looking to keep pace. Chiyotairu at 2-1 could establish himself as part of the chasing pack with a win...and with a little bit of cunning, he does exactly that! Kotoshogiku got a bit too excited and Chiyotairu lets him fall to the ground. Nicely done.
- Takarafuji with the already-receeding hairline now faces 2-1 Ichinojo. The Mongolian eager to put himself in that second group at 3-1. Takarafuji taking some nice hard slaps to the face before they settle in the middle of the ring. A few more slaps and it's Ichinojo who wins. Takarafuji takes a bit of a spill out of the ring at the end. Ichinojo joins the chasing pack at 3-1.
- Aoiyama wants to be part of the chase too. Meisei just wants to win a match and give himself a shot at making kachi-koshi. Meisei has Aoiyama in trouble several times in the match, but can't quite get it done as Aoiyama uses Meisei's own momentum to send him to the ground! Aoiyama definitely in the hunt as he goes to 3-1. Meisei, at 0-4, may need some divine intervention to get to 8 wins now.
- Mitakeumi and Shodai are very familiar with each other, having faced off 16 times. Both are 2-1 and looking to be part of the chasing pack. Mitakeumi doing some nice bumping, shoving Shodai closer and closer to the outside, and eventually he gets the job done. Victory for Mitakeumi and he goes to 3-1.
- Our next bout features a pair of wrestlers who need to show some signs of life. Endo is wishing he could face a few Maegashira fighters at this point, because he takes on a desperate Tamawashi, who will be eager to get his first win. Endo was in trouble for a little bit, but got through it and was able to push Tamawashi out of the ring for the win. Endo's 2-2 after a tough start.
- Next up, a pair of desperate competitors. Daieisho's lost two straight since beating Meisei on day 1, while Tochinoshin is really being hampered by his injury but continues to give it a go against better wisdom. It's tough to watch Tochinoshin, an Ozeki, struggle like this. His limited mobility really biting him here, as Daieisho gets the win after a counter. Daieisho goes to 2-2, while Tochinoshin really should withdraw as going on is doing him no favors at all. He'd probably be kadoban next basho anyway, whether he takes a make-koshi here or withdraws like he should.
- After being beaten by both Yokozuna, Asanoyama must be delighted to see an Ozeki standing in front of him. That Ozeki is Takayasu. Asanoyama gives a good display, but once again he falls short as Takayasu gets the win after a strong bout.
- Hokutofuji has also lost to both Yokozuna in back to back matches, he too is glad to see an Ozeki in front of him in the form of Goeido. After jumping the start the first two times, we finally get a fair start. Hokutofuji looked like he was in trouble for a little bit, and the two wrestlers almost took out the ref! In the end, Goeido's momentum was used against him and Hokutofuji took advantage. Congrats, Hokutofuji! You won a match! Pick up your prize and push forward to a kachi-koshi!
- Abi's road to a kachi-koshi got extremely tough because he's gotta face Kakuryu. Our first sight of a Yokozuna today. Abi stays with him in the slaps for a few seconds, but Kakuryu's just too much. Poor Abi.
- Main Event time! Unbeaten Hakuho faces Ryuden, who's knocked off a two Ozeki in a row. Ryuden fights Hakuho off for a moment, but the talent gap is sufficient enough that Hakuho can win with a shift of momentum and a lift out of the ring.
- We are down to 4 undefeateds. Kakuryu, Hakuho, Tomokaze, and Terutsuyoshi all looking like the favorites at this point. However, there is a nice mix of 9 fighters in the chasing pack at 3-1.