[Magus978]

It's that time again.

- We start off with a Juryo, Azumaryu. A former Maegashira 14, Azumaryu is 3-4 this tournament and might not be heading back to Makuuchi this time. He faces Kotoyuki, who's won 4 straight. Kotoyuki charges in, but Azumaryu just steps out of the way! From there it's just a matter of shoving him out of the ring. A perfect example of coming out way too pumped up. The Juryo picks up the upset victory. Pretty embarrassing for Kotoyuki, who sees his win streak go by the boards.

- Enho's giving up 207 lbs to today's opponent, Chiyomaru. After an eternity to get started, Enho goes low to try and get an advantage, but Chiyomaru's just too strong and too big for him this time around. Shove to the ground and that's that. Chiyomaru gets back to .500

- Yago and Sadanoumi probably both need to make kachi-koshi to stay in Makuuchi, and one of them will help their cause today. Even bout as most of the action happens in the middle. Both fighters with good grips on the mawashi, but it's Sadanoumi who blocks the attempted drag-out enough to where Yago falls backwards! Sadanoumi goes to 5-3, while Yago's Makuuchi status is starting to look a little precarious at 3-5.

- MASSIVE salt toss by 6-1 Terutsuyoshi before today's fight with Kagayaki (4-3). He's just 1 loss behind the Yokozuna. Terutsuyoshi tries to brute-force Kagayaki out, but all he's doing is exerting effort and getting nowhere. In the end, Kagayaki scores the takedown and the victory. Shows how deep the Maegashira ranks can be as another 1-loss competitor bites the dust.

- A story of two very desperate Maegashira hit the ring now, as 1-6 Kaisei takes on 2-5 Nishikigi. Kaisei needs a big run to save his Makuuchi status, and while Nishikigi probably isn't in much danger of falling out of the division, a few wins would help his cause for sure. Kaisei's woeful performance continues as Nishikigi gets low and powers the bigger Kaisei out of the ring. Kaisei's stay in Makuuchi is rapidly coming to an end.

- Kotoeko (3-4) and Tochiozan (2-5) both need wins, and fast. Good spirit being shown by both fighters, but Kotoeko charges his opponent and forces him out. Kotoeko's back to .500, while Tochiozan falls to 2-6 and his hopes of safely avoiding a drop to Juryo anytime soon are taking a big hit.

- Toyonoshima is someone who could easily be on that fringe of staying in the top division or dropping down. He needs wins, and yesterday was a good start. Today, he faces Takagenji, loser of 3 of his last 4 bouts. Toyonoshima starts well, but Takagenji pushes back and has him on the brink. However, Toyonoshima turns the tables and brings him down! Toyonoshima gathering momentum as he tries to fight back, now 3-5. Takagenji is 4-4 after starting 3-0.

- Myogiryu finds himself in the main chase pack now at 5-2. Today it's a date with 3-4 Daishoho. Daishoho has won 3 of his last 4 bouts and is in good form despite taking a loss yesterday. After today, however, that good form is gone. All too easy for Myogiryu who just powers him out of the ring. Myogiryu is 6-2 and in good position in the unlikely scenario that one (or both) of the Yokozuna fall apart.

- Pair of 4-3 wrestlers here, as Chiyotairyu and Shohozan battle it out. Both were winners yesterday, but only one can be a winner today. After some extended holding around the middle of the ring, Chiyotairyu makes a big push and it's enough to take Shohozan out of the ring. Chiyotairyu's 5-3, and Shohozan drops to 4-4.

- Okinoumi (4-3) and Shimanoumi (3-4) are your usual middle of the road guys at this point in the basho. Shimanoumi's made kachi-koshi in 4 straight tournaments. To make it 5 in a row, he's gotta get back to .500 first. Good aggression from Okinoumi, but Shimanoumi starts to push back...and Okinoumi slips! His hands hit the ground, and this one's over! Both fighters move to 4-4.

- Kotoshogiku faces off with 5-2 Tomokaze. The former Ozeki starts brightly, but Tomokaze turns the tide and eventually pushes Kotoshogiku out. Tomokaze moves to 6-2, level with Terutsuyoshi.

- Onosho's won two in a row to get back to 3-4, and today he faces 2-5 Takarafuji in a bid to make it 3 in a row. Both men have been higher up the ladder at some point in their careers, Onosho being a former Komusubi, and Takarafuji being a former Sekiwake. Good action here between two wrestlers who may be better than their records indicate. In the end, Onosho sends Takarafuji down to the ground and fights his way back to .500. Takarafuji is 2-6 and faces another drop down the Maegashira ranks.

- A pair of competitors who've had tough roads this basho, it's Asanoyama (2-5) vs Endo (3-4). Both must be glad to see a Maegashira in front of them. Asanoyama the aggressor early on, and his persistance is rewarded as he takes Endo down! Both fighters move to 3-5 for the tournament...OH MY GOD THE REFEREE TURNED PURPLE!

- Aoiyama (3-4) and Hokutofuji (4-3) have to be doing cartwheels on the inside to not see a high ranked wrestler before them. Aoiyama gets bamboozled as Hokutofuji sidesteps him after the initial hit, and LOOK OUT REF! Hokutofuji gets the easy victory to move to 5-3.

- It was fun while it lasted for Abi, who at 2-5 must deal with a fellow Komusubi in Ryuden (3-4). If it's any consolation for Abi fans, he's up in the lifetime series 3-1. Abi knows only one way forward, and it's to slap slap slap! He took a defensive position and persisted with the slaps, eventually Ryuden stumbled and took himself out of the ring! Both are 3-5.

- Pair of chasers up next, as Mitakeumi and Ichinojo square off. Both are 5-2, and someone's gonna fall off the pace. After two false starts from Mitakeumi, we do eventually get going, and Mitakeumi's excitement carries over into the bout proper as he wins with an Oshidashi. Mitakeumi joins Tomokaze and Terutsuyoshi at 6-2.

- 3-4 Goeido is scheduled to face 1-6 Meisei...but neither man are in the ring. You know what this means, someone's forfeited. Unfortunately for us, it's the Ozeki Goeido who has to pull out. He's the 3rd Ozeki to drop out of this tournament through injury. We'll have two kadoban Ozeki next tournament in Goeido and Tochinoshin.

- The massively underperforming Tamawashi needs to pick it up badly. In his way of picking up the pace is 6-1 Takayasu. Tamawashi puts on a great effort here, but he slips and loses...but oh no! Takayasu is clutching his elbow! Let's hope it's nothing serious, because at 7-1 Takayasu is the last major threat to one of the Yokozuna winning this thing.

- First of the two Yokozuna are up now as Kakuryu faces off with Daieisho. Daieisho tries to stay with him, but falls to the ground in the attempt. Kakuryu goes to 8-0.

- Main Event time! Hakuho looks to keep pace with Kakuryu as he battles Shodai. Some good spirit from Shodai, but spirit alone will not win you a bout with a Yokozuna, as Hakuho is just too good. Plants him to the ground, and then falls on him. Unintentional of course, but that's rough for Shodai.

- As usual, both Yokozuna have clinched kachi-koshi...but they're thinking far bigger. A look at the leaderboard tells us that the suddenly injured Takayasu is the last hope for a non-Yokozuna champion at 7-1. Let's hope that elbow injury isn't serious so he can really give them a run for their money. Among the pack at 6-2 are Terutsuyoshi, Tomokaze, Mitakeumi, and Myogiryu. They'll still have a shot at winning this tournament if both Yokozuna spontaneously combust. Otherwise, it's a battle for 3rd.