We are just about at the half-way point of the tournament now and a lot of guys are still in this thing. Sure we have some pretty clear leaders, but there’s a big pack of guys just behind them.
To find out who won and lost on Day 6, just scroll on down. I’ve got all the results and winning methods. And I’ve got lots of video replays and gifs showing off some of the best action.
There’s also my analysis on what went down.
Hope you enjoy it. If you’re watching the tournament, please leave a comment and tell me who you think will win the cup this month.
Bonus gif is this top down replay of Oshoma’s perfectly timed shoulder roll on Roga off the tachiai. He’s caught him with this twice now.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Ryuden (4-2) def. Shirokuma (2-4) via yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Onokatsu (2-4) def. Kitanowaka (2-4) via yorikiri
Nishikigi (4-2) def. Nishikifuji (2-4) via oshidashi (frontal push out) after mono-ii (judges’ review)
Takayasu (4-2) def. Bushozan (4-2) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Kinbozan (2-4) def. Takarafuji (4-2) via oshidashi
Hokutofuji (4-2) def. Kagayaki (1-5) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Oshoma (4-2) def. Tamawashi (2-4) via hatakikomi (slap down)
Endo (4-2) def. Sadanoumi (3-3) via yorikiri
Roga (3-3) def. Midorifuji (3-3) via yorikiri*
Churanoumi (4-2) def. Ichiyamamoto (2-4) via oshidashi
Ura (4-2) def. Gonoyama (2-4) via hatakikomi*
Shonannoumi (1-5) def. Meisei (1-5) via abisetaoshi (backwards force down)*
Kotoshoho (4-2) def. Wakatakakage (4-2) via oshidashi*
Takanosho (2-4) def. Atamifuji (2-4) via hikiotoshi
Daieisho (3-3) def. Hiradoumi (4-2) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Onosato (6-0) def. Shodai (4-2) via oshidashi*
Wakamotoharu (4-2) def. Abi (2-4) via okuridashi (rear push out)*
Kirishima (5-1) def. Tobizaru (2-4) via okuridashi*
Kotozakura (5-1) def. Mitakeumi (1-5) via yorikiri
Oho (3-3) def. Hoshoryu (2-4) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
S1w Onosato: 6-0
O1e Kotozakura, S1e Kirishima: 5-1
K1w Hiradoumi, M3e Wakamotoharu, M4e Shodai, M4w Kotoshoho, M5e Ura, M7e Wakatakakage, M7w Churanoumi, M8e Endo, M9w Oshoma, M12e Bushozan, M13e Hokutofuji, M13w Nishikigi, M14e Ryuden, M15e Takayasu, M15w Takarafuji: 4-2
Analysis
Onosato is looking tough to beat this basho. On Day 6 he forced out Shodai without too much trouble. Shodai hasn’t been the force he once was over recent years. But he was looking pretty good in this tournament, so it’s very impressive that Onosato was able to handle him so easily. Onosato got the win on Day 6 thanks to a great two-handed push right on Shodai’s chest off the tachiai. That bent Shodai backwards and gave Onosato lots of time to lock-on and then drive him out.
Kotozakura won on Day 6, too. That keeps him one win behind Onosato. He beat Mitakeumi by marching him out with a migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside) grip. Mitakeumi is having a rough tournament thanks to the murderer’s row he’s had to face (Takakeisho, Abi, Daieisho, Kirishima, Hoshoryu and now Kotozakura).
Kirishima is also at 5-1. He won a fun bout with Tobizaru (someone who historically gives him problems). Tobi opted to grapple with Kirishima in this match, which was a choice. He was able to get his right hand on Kirishima’s belt. Kirishima would then exploit that grip for an armlock and use it to drag Tobizaru across the ring. After turning Tobizaru around the former ozeki had an easy time pushing him out.
Reigning ozeki Hoshoryu continues to have a horrible time this fall. He’s 2-4 after losing to Oho.
I think I need to start calling Oho The Headhunter for how well he is doing against the san’yaku. This win makes him 5-2 against Hoshoryu. This tournament he’s also beaten Takakeisho and Kotozakura. A couple of tournaments ago he scored a win over Terunofuji in their first meeting, too. If only Oho could perform as well against lower ranked opponents.
This loss is another example of Hoshoryu being reluctant to go to his throwing arsenal. I think his body is telling him this style of sumo is not sustainable and he’s frantically trying to develop a new style on the fly. When he gets in trouble, though, he is resorting to throws. But they just don’t have the same conviction as they did last year (when he was bouncing guys off their backs without a second thought).
This throw attempt came after he discovered he couldn’t thrust or force back Oho. The rushed attempt wasn’t as clean as we’re used to seeing from Hoshoryu, who excels when throwing opponents who are coming onto him. The stationary Oho was able to unhook Hosohoryu’s rising leg and then step away to allow him space to push down for the win.
Hoshoryu, at 2-4, should forget about competing for a cup this month. Instead he’s in a battle to earn a kachi-koshi.
Right now we have a slew of rikishi on 4-2 records. Any one of them might be able to come through the crowd and challenge in the second week of the tournament. Among those guys is the loveable Ura.
Our Peach Prince bamboozled Gonoyama (again) to earn his fourth win of the basho. Ura is 5-0 against Gonoyama. His fifth win was similar to his fourth. Both times he was able to get Gonoyama to bite on a head feint. This time Ura side-stepped off that feint to let Gonoyama crash down.
Hiradoumi is 4-2. He could have been 5-1 had he gotten past his fellow pug-face Daieisho. Daieisho won this bout in very Daieisho fashion, blitzing Hiradoumi from the jump and refusing to give his opponent a second to think/respond to his thrusts.
Hokutofuji is at 4-2 as well! ‘The Berserker’ has been struggling over the last year, but maybe this is the tournament we finally see him finish with a positive record again. He was too quick for Kagayaki on Day 6.
My boy Bushozan is 4-2 as well, thanks to a loss to Takayasu. Takayasu again looked fit as he brushed Bushozan around the ring before executing a perfectly timed side-step. If Takayasu is healthy he should put down a big number of wins this basho given how low ranked a lot of opposition will be.
We have some fun ones on the docket for tomorrow. Kotozakura takes on Wakamotoharu, Onosato meets Hiradoumi (Hiradoumi is 2-1 in that match-up), and Hoshoryu will fight Shodai.
Until then, take care!
Onosato is a wrecking ball this tournament. I'll always root for Double Boob but another Onosato tournament win would be cool. Also it's been fun to see Kirishima doing really well and what is going on with Hoshoryu? Guy get the spot light and then this tournament he is just sh**ing the bed.