Wakanosho and Oshoumi have a thrusting fight, but Waka manages to keep driving forward from the start and push his opponent out.
Roga pushes Tobizaru back early on but Tobi dodges a thrust near the bales. Roga recovers and goes for a belt throw but the Monkey locks a leg around the outside to counter, then pivots the other way and pushes Roga out.
Mitakeumi still near the bottom of the roster at #14, and immediately has a stalemate in the center with Tamawashi. When Tama goes to push to the side Mitakeumi drives him back and out.
An agility match between the smaller Tokihayate and Kotoeiho starts with some jockeying for position off the tachiai, and Koto goes for a throw that Toki recovers from but he gives up an inside left belt grip to Koto. Toki muscles forward without a belt grip but Koto uses his foot against the straw to defend, and they both end up all the way across the other side where Koto finds an outside left grip to throw Toki down at the edge.
Shishi and Kinbozan both take belt grips off the tachiai and Shishi has the first drive, but Kinbozan circles at the edge and dances Shishi along the bales all the way to the other side where he crushes him down with abisetaoshi.
Ura staying low on the tachiai and stops Hakunofuji's drive, who then tries a pull down, but Ura's drive uses his momentum and sends Hakuno flying out of the ring.
Powerful tachiai from Nishikifuji who stands Asanoyama up with a throat thrust, but Asano gets his balance and has a strong drive back. Nishiki tries circling and a bit of a throw but ends up off the ring as Asano follows him out.
Initially looked like a boring match as Asahakuryu takes Abi to the edge but Abi manages to leap sideways and circle to recover before before breaking Asa's stance with throat thrusts, allowing Abi to shove him out.
Asakoryu has THREE false starts against the larger Oshoma. They have a slap fight in the center before Asa is shoved back, but he drives forward as Oshoma pushes down on his neck, and Osho runs out of ring and half falls on one of the side judges before he can get Asa on the clay.
Wakamotoharu has a false start against Gonoyama, and when the match finally starts Gono's strong drive is too much for WMH.
Wakatakakage with the first henka of the day. The tiniest bit of shoulder contact that may has well not have happened the way Hiradoumi went charging out of the ring.
Yoshinofuji and Kotoshoho both end up grappling beltless after the tachiai, and Yoshi manages to slip Koto's throw and balance on one leg long enough so that they both go down. Gyoji gives it to Koto and a matta is called, where the decision gets overturned for Yoshi with a sukuinage.
Atamifuji's relentless power drives Ichiyamamoto back from the tachiai, but a quick sidestep and pull puts Atami over the bales.
Kirishima and Takanosho have a strong tachiai in the center until Kiri sees an opportunity to slap an arm down and Takano puts his hands down to a hatakikomi.
Fujinokawa circles around Kotozakura's charge and uses thrusts to keep the big ozeki off balance until he's shoved off the ring for a tsukidashi.
Hoshoryu gets an initial drive against Takayasu but Hosho's hand is on the outside. When he goes to switch grips Papa Bear uses the momentum to circle and put weight on the back of Hosho's neck until he's forced to put a hand on the clay. Hosho is slow to get up (during which time a single cushion goes flying in the crowd) and limps off the ring, looking like his right leg could be injured. On the replay it looks like he could've overextended it as he fell, maybe a groin pull.
We could be without any yokozuna for this tournament after day 1!
That was a good try big Sheesh, but Kinbozan just out-talented you. But it was a decent effort.
Ura’s drive uses his momentum and sends Hakuno flying out of the ring.
I love that lil' "strut" he did as he went back to the starting position. Even when he's not being flashy, he's being flashy.
Gyoji gives it to Koto and a matta is called, where the decision gets overturned for Yoshi with a sukuinage.
yeah that was a close one. Great job, Yoshinofuji!
looking like his right leg could be injured
Feelz bad if Hoshoryu's injured and I hope he's OK, but I was pumped that Big Poppa won. Remember that time Hoshoryu shoved him out the ring bc he didn't like getting slapped?
takayasu vs hoshoryu: a gift wrap for the new tournament
Wakanosho and Oshoumi have a thrusting fight, but Waka manages to keep driving forward from the start and push his opponent out.
Roga pushes Tobizaru back early on but Tobi dodges a thrust near the bales. Roga recovers and goes for a belt throw but the Monkey locks a leg around the outside to counter, then pivots the other way and pushes Roga out.
Mitakeumi still near the bottom of the roster at #14, and immediately has a stalemate in the center with Tamawashi. When Tama goes to push to the side Mitakeumi drives him back and out.
An agility match between the smaller Tokihayate and Kotoeiho starts with some jockeying for position off the tachiai, and Koto goes for a throw that Toki recovers from but he gives up an inside left belt grip to Koto. Toki muscles forward without a belt grip but Koto uses his foot against the straw to defend, and they both end up all the way across the other side where Koto finds an outside left grip to throw Toki down at the edge.
Shishi and Kinbozan both take belt grips off the tachiai and Shishi has the first drive, but Kinbozan circles at the edge and dances Shishi along the bales all the way to the other side where he crushes him down with abisetaoshi.
Ura staying low on the tachiai and stops Hakunofuji's drive, who then tries a pull down, but Ura's drive uses his momentum and sends Hakuno flying out of the ring.
Powerful tachiai from Nishikifuji who stands Asanoyama up with a throat thrust, but Asano gets his balance and has a strong drive back. Nishiki tries circling and a bit of a throw but ends up off the ring as Asano follows him out.
Initially looked like a boring match as Asahakuryu takes Abi to the edge but Abi manages to leap sideways and circle to recover before before breaking Asa's stance with throat thrusts, allowing Abi to shove him out.
Asakoryu has THREE false starts against the larger Oshoma. They have a slap fight in the center before Asa is shoved back, but he drives forward as Oshoma pushes down on his neck, and Osho runs out of ring and half falls on one of the side judges before he can get Asa on the clay.
Wakamotoharu has a false start against Gonoyama, and when the match finally starts Gono's strong drive is too much for WMH.
Wakatakakage with the first henka of the day. The tiniest bit of shoulder contact that may has well not have happened the way Hiradoumi went charging out of the ring.
Yoshinofuji and Kotoshoho both end up grappling beltless after the tachiai, and Yoshi manages to slip Koto's throw and balance on one leg long enough so that they both go down. Gyoji gives it to Koto and a matta is called, where the decision gets overturned for Yoshi with a sukuinage.
Atamifuji's relentless power drives Ichiyamamoto back from the tachiai, but a quick sidestep and pull puts Atami over the bales.
Kirishima and Takanosho have a strong tachiai in the center until Kiri sees an opportunity to slap an arm down and Takano puts his hands down to a hatakikomi.
Fujinokawa circles around Kotozakura's charge and uses thrusts to keep the big ozeki off balance until he's shoved off the ring for a tsukidashi.
Hoshoryu gets an initial drive against Takayasu but Hosho's hand is on the outside. When he goes to switch grips Papa Bear uses the momentum to circle and put weight on the back of Hosho's neck until he's forced to put a hand on the clay. Hosho is slow to get up (during which time a single cushion goes flying in the crowd) and limps off the ring, looking like his right leg could be injured. On the replay it looks like he could've overextended it as he fell, maybe a groin pull.
We could be without any yokozuna for this tournament after day 1!
*Notahenkakage
The field is wide open, but for whom?
THIS IS IT! Finally, this is Takayasu's tourney!!!1!!!
One of the ozeki is always a good bet, along with maybe WTK, Atamifuji, or Kotoshoho
That was a good try big Sheesh, but Kinbozan just out-talented you. But it was a decent effort.
I love that lil' "strut" he did as he went back to the starting position. Even when he's not being flashy, he's being flashy.
yeah that was a close one. Great job, Yoshinofuji!
Feelz bad if Hoshoryu's injured and I hope he's OK, but I was pumped that Big Poppa won. Remember that time Hoshoryu shoved him out the ring bc he didn't like getting slapped?