GRAND SUMO: Day 12 of the May 2025 Tournament – GRAND SUMO Highlights
[Music] [Music] Hello to you and welcome to our Grand Sumo Highlights day 12 coverage. Natsubasho the summer tournament. Yet another summery kind of a day today. What a yusha race we have. And this man equaled his personal best 11 straight wins yesterday. Can he keep it going? Can he take the US show? Well, there’s quite a few people involved that would like to stop that. There is that very busy leaderboard. Interesting to see whether the three lost men can play a part. Certainly shorty with two losses being two off the base can. The crowd are ready for the action. They’ve come far and wide to enjoy the sumo. They’re nestled in on this warm day. So, as they’re getting ready, let’s us get ready to bring you the action. We kick off with Thomas Sho and Kotto. What a fine tournament he’s having, having missed the first five days. He’s had four wins in a row. Taking on a man trying to avoid Makoshi at Moses 17. A losing tournament. He goes back to Jurio. Good hit. Both men a little high. Thomas Sho inside position required by Kotto Sho. Slap down attempt twice by Thomas Sho. But driving forward well. Kotto Sho. He wins. It was going to be a Sho win. It’s just a matter of which one. Oshidashi. Five straight wins for that young man. Takes him to 61 and five. Tamaso. Unfortunately a Makoshi losing tournament. Back to Jurio for him. [Applause] One of the iron men of sumo, Nishkigi, steps up on the clay to take on Toki Hayate. Consecutive performance by this longtime veteran. Never had a day off sumo and he takes on a man he’s met twice before. They have a win each. Inside soft Tati got his favorite grip though as Tokihayate but maneuvered around perfectly by Nishkigi. So as a result of that encounter after 12 days they’re both six and six. It’s a Yikitti frontal force out win for Nishkigi. First of our highlight bouts. We take a look at the young man who got his first top division kachi koshi yesterday. Asakoru 8 and three. The mashid is 17 takes on a tummy fuji. Well, wasn’t he a happy man yesterday with that muscular pose he likes to stretch before each bout. Atami Fuji going for kachi koshi today. First time meeting in the top division. Hard and fast inside with a right hand. Here’s Asa. Now good position by Atami Fuji. Gets wrestled to the side. gets moved to the side and a thrust down win for Asa Ku. Well, that’s a cherry on top of his Kachi Koshi. Picks up his ninth win. Kami Fuji, he’ll have to try for Kachi Koshi tomorrow. Might find himself against a top ranker on day 12 with a fine record of nine and three. Good maneuvering here. The Tammy Fuji got into a good position with the right hand but couldn’t get anything done with the left. And then that pivot, the twist and the thrust down win. Suki toshi by Asakodu. Happy man from Takasagago Baya. The first time meeting between these two. Takenosho seven and four going for Katikoshi. Kaio the rookie five and six. the elusive man that he is, he kind of plays cat and mouse. He lunges forward, then retreats. This man only knows one kind of sumo usually, and that’s go forward. Going forward well, but thrusting and moving to the side. And clever maneuvering again, this time by Kaio to win by slap down at Takiki. No kachicosi for Takenosho, but Kaio picks up his sixth win. He’s got to be pretty happy. He wasn’t looking too good early on with four straight losses, but now he’s six and six. Once again, he stops the charge. He retreats, moves to the side, and slaps the man on the shoulder in the back to win by a Takcomi. He’s done this so many times in his victories in the tournament. Shaumi and Endo step up. They’ve met nine times. Shaumi’s won five of them. But Shonumi already has a Makoshi. Three and eight. Endo just needs a couple of more wins. He’s six and five. They normally have a good battle these two. In with a left hand, but loses that position. Goes with a thrusting attack. Endo deep with the left. He maneuvers Shaoni around and forces him straight over the Tuat for a Y-i-Kitty win. Win number seven. And once again trouble with the knee. He picks up his seventh. One away from a winning record. Shaurumi now three and n in trouble of staying in the top division on the dojo. Shishi and newen. Shishi’s 300th career bout. Two and nine. Newen four and seven. Well, Shishi, can he get something going? Toughest tournament for him so far in his brief top division career. Stepping to the side with an unusual attack. Shishi right hand outside. Solid. Not a good grip inside by Shishi. Judan looks to be controlling things, but Shishi is just being evasive without any real attacking position. The angled attack is just trying to get away from This constant pressure given up by Duden taken back to the edge. He’s to on the toada. He’s at the edge. He’s almost out. He’s out now though. So Nuden avoids Makoshi. Five and seven and Shishi two and 10. It’s a Yikitti win. A frontal force out victory for the Mashida 15. on the dojo. Sadumi the veteran takes on me. A battle of Kachikoshi here. Both men seven and four. 1500th career bout today. 22 years he’ve been in sumo the 38-year-old. And in the headto-head me’s won nine. Satanumi’s won four. Good hit by me. tries a pull down attempt that doesn’t come off. Tries it again. Doesn’t work. Satanumi is moving well though, moving forward. A pushing and thrusting attack. Goes deep with the left hand underneath the armpit and he wins. Kachikoshi the veteran. Sadumi and Meay falls to seven and five. Well, that 1500th career bout’s a memorable one. 22 years in sumo and still going strong. As we saw in the live real time action got the better of the touchy eye and then followed up and then he started to pull and retreat. Sonumi stayed there, took all the hits, stayed in front even with a grabbing of the arm. Good leg positioning, wide stance, then gets in and under and wins by Yuri Kitty. Nice sumo. He was asked the question, is he feeling his age? He said, “No, I think I’m as fast as I ever was.” No hint of retirement in his mind at all. And today’s sumo, you can understand why. Well, there’s a bit of joy being for Midori Fuji. After starting with nine straight losses, he’s had two wins in a row and he takes on the rookie Toi Taiko who’s three and eight. This is a meeting for the first time. In straight on is Midori Fuji then pulls on the arm. Wins by Hiko toshi. Three straight wins. Well, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel even after a bad start. Now he’s on a roll. He’s already got a losing tournament, but he’s finishing strong. Can he keep it going? Both men are three and nine. Roga and Onukatu. Another seven and four battle. One of these men’s going to walk away happy. Will it be Roger or it be Onatu? They’ve met twice before. Roger’s won both of them. Mashida eight. Onatsu been strong late. Looking for a left hand inside grip. Roger can’t get it. Right hand in. He wants the left hand outside. Onatu now he’s got it. There’s a sautak attempt by Roger. Doesn’t move. Onatu Onatu is in a perfect position. This is his favorite grip. He rock and rolls back and forth. Leg trip attempt. Again, an uchigake attempt by Roger. That doesn’t work either. And solid footwork, solid base by Roger to win by Yoriki. He has Kachi Koshi Roga. He’ll have to wait to tomorrow falling to seven and five and the first time that has beaten [Music] Roger. Man from Mongolia should be pretty happy with his sumo. [Applause] Both men land like right hand inside, left hand out. As it turned out during the bout, they ended up with the opposite grip. They have their preferred grips here. But a change of positioning by Ruger meant the left hand went inside and the right hand outside. So normally they wouldn’t be comfortable in the opposite position they prefer, but they both had it. And onu did best with that left inside grip instead of the right. So back-to-back tournaments for him the winning record. So he’s got to be pretty pleased with his performance. Roger returning to the top division. Chironi and Shai losing records both. They’ve met twice. Chanooi’s won both of them. He normally comes in low looking for the left hand inside left hand or right hand in under the opponent’s armpit preferred by Shai. It’s hard as Chironi takes Shai to the edge. He retreats again but can’t escape the second time and it’s an Oshidashi win for Chironi. So he’s won all three bouts that they’ve encountered with each other and they as a result are both three and nine after 12 days. Tobiaru and Kim Bzan. Tobiaru at six and five still has work to do for his Kachi Kikoshi, but Kim Bzan can seal it today. He’s seven and four. First time opportunity for Kim Bosan to beat Toby Zadu. They’ve met twice before. Well, not quite sure what that was. And Tobiadu was looking for something like an ash toy. Grab the knee and lift him up. But Kim Bosan’s got such long arms and kept perfect watch on the movement of Tobaru. Ended up getting a pretty easy kachikoshi. No sweat there and the first time he’s beaten him. Yeah. Goodbye, Toby Zaru. Yeah, the rise smile tells you it’s a little embarrassed by his uh efforts there. But well done, Kim Bolza. Stepping up on the clay. 1700th career bout for Tamawashi taking on Abi, the Iron Man of Sumo. Three and eight losing record. Abby going for Kachi Koshi today. Mash hit a two. No opportunity for Abby to get any extension with the arms and he’s just blown away by Tamawashi. Bout number 1700 was a beauty. Dominated the bout to pick up his fourth win. RB falls to seven. [Music] Oshidashi frontal push out in really tight was Tamashi didn’t allow any extension for Abby. He likes to get the two- arm thrust going straight away but it didn’t work today. Gornoyama and Chio Sharma both three and eight. So when you already have a losing record, you just want to finish off strongly. They’ve met twice before. Have a win each. Push a thrust to one man. Man on the left can push and thrust, but it’s not his go-to. He tries a mangitsu grip. Doesn’t get it. Chio taken back and he grabs the mashi on the outside with the left and wins by a watag. Chio the victor. Little disheveled. Gornoyama to fall to three and nine. Sh with a masida five. He’s currently four and eight. Twice in a row he’s beaten him by. He got out of whack a little at the tati, but he starts to recover here. And look at the hand, the left hand. And Watanag the victory, the overarm throw. Well, yesterday he provided so much excitement. Gura with that victory over Takayasi. He takes on Wakamoto today at Wakamoaru has a very strong edge 9-2 3 and8 losing record for Ura. Wakamotaru five and six. He does normally like to push and thrust against Ura in hard and a little awkwardly there. Ura locked up in the middle by Wakamoto. He retreats, pulls now a thrusting attack and a slapping down attempt and eventually it’s by slap down for Wakamo to pull even at six and six and the strut aura takes him to three and nine. Didn’t have a great start to the tournament but he’s lifted in the second half. So many times we see him go to the thrusting attack against Ura, but today Ura just bundled up, came in tight, tried to get a double inside grip, had the left hand in, but the other hand was blocked by Wakamoto and he retreats by pulling and then gets a few slaps and then eventually a slap down. [Applause] Oho and Hadumi. Both men four and seven. One is going to be disappointed because it’ll be a losing record. They’ve met 11 [Applause] times and this man’s won five. Push a thruster. fast away almost a mutter but it wasn’t he just flew out of the blocks to pick up his fifth win and had the masha won a makikoshi four and eight speed from Hirumi to pick up a yikitti win look how fast he got away left hand solid grip Mitsu and just ushers him over the tawata oho hardly got to look in cuz Hiradumi was so quick. The Tak Fuji and Takayasu both men with disappointing numbers but Takuji has a chance to eek out Akachi Koshi but he’s got to win all the way home. He’s four and seven taking on Takayasu for the first time. Two and nine in tight and in both hands. Left hand in right hand out. Takuji using the Gaburi Yodori the stomach but he’s blocked briefly by Takayasu who now has a solid outside and uses it. Oh nag the former Ozaki showing his skill and experience to pick up his third win. But that’s a makoshi. Not too many people saw that happening this tournament for Takuji. his first makoshi in the top division. Left hand in, right hand under the armpit. Always wanting the left hand inside is Takayyasu. He couldn’t get it. So he ended up getting the right hand outside grip. Forced back to the edge there. The right hand clings on. And here it’s just down you go. Wakataga Kag takes on Oshama. Both men eight and three. Both having very good tournaments. Komasubi and a Mashida 6. Six with a slight edge in their headto-head. Two to one. Wakataga Kag going down yesterday in that big bout with Orno Santo. Fast away but deflected was wakatag. Then he goes deep with the left and the right. Modashi and takes out Osha. Double inside grip to win by Yuri Kitty. Thunderous applause from the fans at the Kona Gik. Just making sure the chief judge is okay. Checks on Kumagawa to see if he’s wasn’t hit and he’s fine. So, Wakataka Kag up to 9 and three and Oshama 8 and four. He fights Asa Codu tomorrow. Interesting battle with a Migosa 17 coming up on day 13. We see that often the deflection of the tati by Osha on his opponents. But that allowed Wakatag’s speed to get inside so quickly. Aishki and Disho meeting for just the second time. hard pusher thruster taking on the relative newcomer to the top division just his second tournament and he’s exciting just how far can he go in sumo pushing and thrusting straight away from Dio getting a little bit back is al-nishki it’s not what he knows best but he’s trying his best just not quite good enough today but with that skidashi win Disha show goes to 9 and three and Aishki well he gave it his all and we’ll be seeing plenty of him in the future he falls to 8 and four [Applause] that thrust out win having a wonderful tournament Datio I wonder if he can get 12 wins it’s a big ask cuz he’s got some pretty tough opponents in the closing days and here today a battle with Aishki Bout of the day could also maybe be the bout of the tournament. Well, it depends what happens. Onosato and Haku Oho meeting for the first time. We know what Onoato can do. We’ve seen how good he can be. Haku Oho hasn’t quite lived up to his potential yet, but he’s having a great tournament as well at 8 and three. Ozeki and a Migosida seven. A lot of Onosato fans in the house. Can Haku Oho caused the upset? What’s the plan for Hakuo? Big hit slams in but then is slammed down. Another win and sets his personal record 12 straight for Onosato. Haku Oh drops to 8 and four. It was a big tati but it didn’t move Onos very far. He kept his eyes on his opponent and then did the rest. [Applause] Still a good tournament for Hakuo. Slams into the Ozaki, but the Ozaki just slips to the side, takes the hit and then slaps him on the back. But Taki comei slap down win. The sole leader before the day, he remains that way. Now Kotto Zakur and Ichi Yamamoto. Kotto Zakuriki going for Kachi Koshi. Itamamoto trying to avoid Makoshi. They’ve only met three times in the top division. Kotto Zakur has won two. This man can be dangerous with his pulling. Starts out pushing and thrusting. Shoulder blast by the Ozeki. No extension of the arms with Ichyamamoto. Now well Ichi Yamamoto is not a moashi technician but he’s going chest to chest with the Ozaki. Ozeki gets a double inside grip. Mozashi moves forward on Ichyamamoto takes him to the edge and crumbles him over the Touada for his Kachikoshi. Eight and four a Makoshi for Ichyamoto. 4 and eight. [Applause] Ichiamamoto didn’t get a chance to get any extension going. He virtually walked straight into the chest of Kotto Zakura who kept him away initially, allowed him inside there because he knew once it became a moashi battle. Nine times out of 10, Kotto Zakura would beat Ichiamamoto on the Moi. As it turned out, there’s the double inside grip. Quickly with the left hand, the Ozeki, but now it’s just a case of wearing him down using the stomach and Yikitti. The final bout of day 12. Kittyishima the Seekwake 8 and three takes on Yokazuno Horyu 9 and two. Now he needs to win this. Koshima of course also wants to win this. The 26year-old today inside grip. That’s his favorite position. Kirishima left hand in right hand out. Given up by the Yokazuna. He moves forward and he wins. The second beats Horyu. They’re both nine and three. And that man has a threeb buffer over his nearest rival which means day 13. The yush show could be decided. Kirishima got his favorite grip straight away. Left hand in, right hand out. That’s just an ideal position for Kirishima. And then he just had to be patient and execute the throw. And he does that beautifully to pick up his ninth win. So the leaderboard got smaller, but Ono Sato now leads by three. and Ono Sato will meet Ka Zakura on day 13. If he wins, he’ll win the Yusha day 13. Quite rare. Come back and join us tomorrow to find out how it all plays out as we present another exciting day. And it’ll be day 13 of Grand Sumo Highlights.
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Day 12 upper division bouts from the May 2025 GRAND SUMO Tournament.