Better late than never, right?
A sick Mrs. Sumo Stomp and a solo trip to the parents with Sumo Stomp Jr. in tow means I’m getting to this newsletter much later than usual.
After an hour and a half on the road, though, I’m at my desk and breaking down another fantastic day on the dohyo.
This day we had Onosato taking on Hoshoryu. If he won he would win the cup. If he lost, he’d go into the final day needing a win to clinch the title. A loss on both days would mean a play-off with at least one other wrestler for the prize.
Check out what happened below, with a full video replay of Onosato vs. Hoshoryu. I have plenty of other matches too and my analysis of everything important that went down.
Bonus gif today is Lil’ Head Butt Hiradoumi showing why it’s not great to lead with your noggin.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Nishikifuji (7-7) def. Tokihayate (9-5) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Hokutofuji (7-5-2) def. Ryuden (7-7) via shitatenage (over arm throw)*
Tamawashi (7-7) def. Takarafuji (9-5) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Roga (8-6) def. Kinbozan (4-10) via yorikiri
Onokatsu (6-8) def. Ichiyamamoto (7-7) via yorikiri
Oshoma (9-5) def. Kitanowaka (5-9) via hatakikomi (slap down)
Kagayaki (2-12) def. Endo (8-6) via oshidashi
Midorifuji (7-7) def. Bushozan (4-10) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Churanoumi (9-5) def. Sadanoumi via yorikiri
Gonoyama (6-8) def. Mitakeumi (4-10) via oshidashi
Wakamotoharu (10-4) def. Kotoshoho (6-8) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Atamifuji (6-8) def. Ura (9-5) via oshidashi
Nishikigi (11-3) def. Oho (8-6) via yoritaoshi*
Takanosho (4-10) def. Meisei (4-10) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Tobizaru (5-9) def. Shonannoumi (3-11) via sokubiotoshi (head chop down) after mono-ii (judges’ review)*
Wakatakakage (11-3) def. Daieisho (8-6) via yoritaoshi*
Shodai (10-4) def. Hiradoumi (6-8) via hikiotoshi
Kirishima (11-3) def. Takayasu (10-4) via tsukiotoshi
Kotozakura (8-6) def. Abi (4-10) via oshidashi
Onosato (13-1) def. Hoshoryu (7-7) via oshidasi*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
S1w Onosato: 13-1
Analysis
To borrow a phrase from leading MMA aficionados Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes, “that boy good.” I am of course referring to Onosato who claimed his second career makuuchi yusho last night, with a win over Hoshoryu.
See his bout (which was a little anti-climatic) below.
Onosato came into this bout 0-3 versus the ozeki. In each of those bouts Hoshoryu was able to flip Onosato onto his back for emphatic shitatenage (under arm throw) wins. Hoshoryu was a motivated opponent this day, too, badly needing a win to secure his kachi-koshi with just two days left in the tournament. But none of that mattered in the end.
Onosato fought the bout with a brilliant, albeit simple, gameplan. After being burned by Hoshoryu’s throws on three occasions, Onosato knew he needed to open this contest with a massive shove, to create space and ensure that Hoshoryu was not able to get his hands anywhere near his belt or his knee anywhere near his thigh. After forcing Hoshoryu back off the tachiai, Onosato used his elite speed to close the gap and then his elite strength to finish the job.
Onosato’s young makuuchi career has now evolved from very impressive to potentially legendary. In just five tournaments he’s amassed a 56-18 record with two yusho, one jun-yusho, two gino-sho, two shukun-sho and two kanto-sho. There’s no doubts that he’s the top dog on the dohyo (whenever Terunofuji isn’t around, at least). With 34 wins now over his past three tournaments, the Japan Sumo Association will have to decide whether they will promote him to ozeki. Usually you’d need 33 wins in three tournaments as a sekiwake. Onosato has only been sekiwake for his past two basho. But with two yusho over that three tournament span we might see special consideration given to the 24-year-old phenom.
Had Onosato lost on this day he would have had three wrestlers lurking in the shadows on the final day hoping to force a play-off. Those three are Kirishima, Wakatakakage and Nishikigi.
Kirishima got to 11 wins on Day 14 after beating Takayasu (thus preventing his fellow former ozeki from getting 11 wins). Kirishima defended Takayasu’s thrusts long enough for Takayasu to seemingly to go down with some sort of injury. Hopefully it’s not serious. Though, Takayasu didn’t look great hobbling off the ring.
Wakatakakage came out on top after a very fun brawl with Daieisho. The two former sekiwake went back and forth with thrusts and Daieisho almost got the win with a great side-step. However, Wakatakakage again showed his top level balance and sticktoitiveness as he resisted falling flat and then got into position to drive Daieisho out.
Nishikigi’s eleventh win came over Oho. He’s having his best tournament in over a year.
Kotozakura, like Hoshoryu, is more concerned with a kachi-koshi this month than he is with a yusho. This day he was able to notch his eighth win after getting past the tricky Abi. Abi forced Kotozakura to chase him in their bout, but Kotozakura (who I think is carrying a lower body injury) was able to stay with him and crowd him out along the boundary.
A bout I particularly enjoyed this day was Kotoshoho vs. Wakamotoharu. This bout is a great case study for the efficacy of Wakamotoharu’s hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside grip). Watch the bout below and pay special attention to the battle these two have over that grip. Once Wakamotoharu is able to lock it in fully, with both hands on the belt, it’s game over for Kotoshoho.
On Day 15 Onosato will have to fight Abi before he gets to lift his massive trophy. Abi has nothing but pride to fight for. He’s 4-10.
Hoshoryu is 7-7 and he will need to beat Kotozakura to avoid kadoban status. Kirishima will take on Daieisho in the third to last bout of the basho. 12 wins this basho would be a fantastic start to his newest ozeki run.
Our Darwin matches on Day 15 are Hokutofuji vs. Midorifuji, Ichiyamamoto vs. Nishikifuji and Tamawashi vs. Ryuden. Sadanoumi will also be fighting for a kachi-koshi on Day 15. He’s taking on the 6-8 Onokatsu.
See you then!