GRAND SUMO: Day 6 of the July 2025 Tournament – GRAND SUMO Highlights
Welcome back to steamy Nagagoya for day six of the July tournament now competing as the only Yokozuna. He will face his college teammate Onoatsu for the very first time as professionals. There’s a look inside the cavernous IG Arena. We begin with Cotto and Kaio. This is Kyle’s second tournament in the top division and it’s been going even worse than his first BO for Cotto Shoo. Having his younger brother join him in Makushi seems to have energized him. A tupati battle to start edging Kyle back and he can’t finish off Kyle. Kyle circling around that gives him a chance but eventually Cotto Sho catches up with him and wins by Oshidashi push out. So that keeps Kyle winless and Cotto Sho improves to four and two. We move on to rookie Kusano against Ukrainian Shishi. Kusano is a newbie, but he’s already showing that he belongs in the top division. Shishi is fighting to stay up here. Coming in low is Kusano and he controls the momentum flattening Shishi. It’s a Yodi Taoshi frontal crush out. Kusano is no ordinary rookie. He’s up to five and one and his name is on the leaderboard. Kusano with an excellent angle of attack. He immediately grabs the left hand outside and manhandles Shishi. Here are Cottojo and Fujinoa. A battle of newcomers, both three and two. After a shaky start, young Fujinoa has run off three straight wins. Here’s Coto Ajo with the impressive leg lifts at the Shikiri. Fast start by Fujino Kawa. He immediately seizes a left hand inside, but Kotojo is bigger and he seems to have the more secure grip, but Fujino Kawa rallies and wins with a Kubal headlock pro. Kubinag is more normally a desperation move, but Fujinoa looked very solid executing that throw. This was a brief battle, but it was an exciting one as well. Back and forth the two rookies went. Difficult to say who has the advantage. And it’s Fujinoa who is the winner. Beautiful execution. Our first bout of the day between two former Ozaki, two former usual winners, Mitakumi and Shai. Mitakei finds himself co-leader after five days. Shai at three and two. They have fought 34 times in Makunuchi. Mitakumi looking to extend his undefeated streak. Off they go. And it’s Mitakei who surges forward. He picks up his sixth straight win with that Yori Kitty. Mitake Yumi spent the May tournament in Jurio and that seems to have refreshed him. He has the lead in the usual race in the first week. Taking Shai straight back. Here’s another look. Mitaki showing great energy. Up next are Takosho and Asa. Both are at two and three. They met for the first time in May. And it was Asa Cordu losing to Takosho by thrust out. Fast start by Asaaku, but Takanosho absorbs that hit and then drops Asaakoru immediately. It’s a Hataki Ki slap down. Takeno evens his record at three and three. Up next, Chanoi and Toki Hayate. Tokihayate is at a modest career high in rank. Mashida 11. Okinawa native Chidanoi currently three and two. They bounce off each other at the Tati. Neither man with a mashi grip. Chanolumi surging forward. Toki Hayate parrying Churanomi’s attack and then pushes out Churanumi. Oshidashi frontalto push out by Toki Hayate. It looked like Churanumi had the advantage throughout that match, but in the end Toki Hayate was the victor. Midori Fuji and Roga up next. These two are both two and three. Haven’t seen his trademark katasukashi from Midori Fuji. Roga is three years younger. Inside position by Midori Fuji. Looks like he’s trying to slip the right arm inside. That’s the position he likes to be in when he has the under shoulder swing down. Meanwhile, Roga trying to raise Midori Fuji’s upper body, it appears. But look at that clever move by Midori Fuji. A kinda Hinedi two-handed arm twist down. So there’s some Midori Fuji magic on day six. He evens his record at three and three. Midori Fuji leading with his right hand, but then he surprises everyone including Roga. using his left arm with the skate to twist down Roga. What a clever finish by Midori Fuji right here. Here are Atami Fuji and Chio. They are trending in opposite directions. Atami Fuji has won three in a row. Chio 0 and five. Chio getting moved back by Atami Fuji. Atami Fuji with the right hand outside and he uses that grip for the Yodi Kitty for south. So the struggle continues for Chio. He remains winless while Atami Fuji improves to four and two. Four straight wins for that man. Two fan favorites on the dojo. Uda and Toby Zadu. Tobisadu leads this series 10-6. Although in this tournament, Uda has a much better record. Buddha at 4 and one. They bounce off each other. A bit of slapping from the two digshi. It’s an upper body battle. Constant movement as you would expect. Uda gets an inside position. Toby Zadu in trouble and Uda shoves out Toby Zadu. The Kimar is Yodi Kitty force out. Fans were entertained by that match as it was quite a scrap by Uda and Tobiizadu. And Uda continues his fine first week improving to five and one with that Yodi. Toby Zadu down to two and four. Here’s Tedou Fuji and Sadoi. Mashida 8 might be too much to ask from the 38-year-old. He only has one win. Taken Fuji has a big tati but inconsistent follow through. He’s currently three and two. They conceded Fuji getting moved back by Sadoni but Sadoni cannot finish off Ted Fuji. Taku Fuji not known for is Yotuumo, but he grabs the moashi of Sadon Umi and he uses that for Yori Kitty, but Taketu Fuji immediately grabbing his right bicep. Hope it’s not serious. He tells the Yobidashi he’s okay, but his facial expression says otherwise. I don’t want to speculate as to what’s troubling him, but he grabbed his right bicep immediately. Hopefully, it’s just something temporary like a strain and not something serious like a muscle tear. In any case, Taker Fuji looks like he is in pain despite winning by Yodi. On the dojo now it’s Hi Umi and Ichi Yamamoto Ichi Yamamoto a surprise co-leader a 5 and0 record um at two and three. They come in low and hard. Hi Umi gets to the rear of Ichi Yamamoto and ends his winning streak. Hi umi winning by Oshidashi push out. So it was the speed and agility of Hi Umi that carries that match. Ichiamoto slow to respond when Hiad Umi gets to the rear. Here’s another look. So, Hiui ends Ichyamoto’s undefeated streak and that means Mitaki is the sole leader. Here we go with Haku Oho and Meay. Both are at two and three. Haku Oho, the hard charging 21-year-old may say dealing with a sore back. They have the same record at the moment. They latch on to each other. May briefly getting a grip of Hakuo’s moashi, but he can’t finish off Hakuo. Hakuo not known as a grappler Yotuumo. These two with the same grip. Left hand inside, right hand outside combination. Hard to say who has the better grip. They’re at a standstill at the center of the doho. This match looks like it might go a while. Me makes a move. But Hakuo having no trouble blocking me’s attempt to move forward. So at this point it becomes a stamina battle. Who has more gas in the tank? Me or Hakuo? They continue to have the same grip. The goji urging them to do something. So who makes a move? Will it be me or Hakuo? Neither man looks like they have a strong deep mashi grip. You can see Hakuo trying to dig the fingers of his right hand into the moashi of me to improve his grip. Hakuo flinches, but still no movement from the two at a complete standstill and it’s been a while. Now they go forward and it’s Hakuo who swings around me drops him. So as I said, Hakuo is not known for his grappling technique, but he uses that for a nag underarm throw. That match going about two and a half minutes as Hakuo is the winner. He evens his record at three and three. Meay falls to two and four. Here’s Gonoyama and Tamawashi, both with a sparkling 4 and1 record. No decline in power for the 40year-old Tamawashi. Gonoyama has already matched the same number of wins that he had in the entire May tournament. Big hit at the Tati and Tamawashi dominates Gonoyama. Tamawashi sends Gonoyama crashing down with an Oshi Toshi frontal push down. So the oldest seori shows no signs of losing his strength. A powerful Oshi and Tamawashi’s up to five and one and is among the leaders after six days. Look at those powerful arms from the Iron Man. Here’s Oho and Wakamoto Hadu. Wakamoto Hadu’s Kimoshi upset of Houyu on day two is his only win so far. Oho got a freebie for Sanenjo when Hooy withdrew yesterday. kick. Off they go. A bit of Zupati and Wakamoto Hadu with an inside position and he drops. Oho Hataki Kiy slap down. So Wakamoto Hadu picks up just his second victory in this Nangoya tournament with the slap down. Both men now at two and four. Here’s our second bout of the day. Both men at 4 and one. Surprising Aishki and former Ozaki Takayasu. They have never fought before. Takayasu is on a four match win streak. While Aishki has had an amazing first week, he’s beaten a Yokuzuna and Ozeki and both Seiwake. Now he goes against Kusubi. Staying low as always is Anishki. A bit of thrusting from Takayasu. But Takayasu is caught up right. Oh, almost pulling down Takayasu was Anishki, but Takayasu stays alive. Takayasu almost put his right hand down on the dohoyo, but Takayasu uses that same right hand to get an outside grip and he stuns the Ukrainian with anatag with that right hand and overarm throw. So what a comeback for Takayasu. He almost lost when he put that right hand down on the dohillo. And he uses that same right hand to get an outside grip and win by Uate Nag. Let’s look at this replay. Takayasu almost puts the right hand down right about here. But he stays alive. And then he uses that same right hand to get an outside grip on the moashi of Aishki. Aishki has amazing instincts, but he cannot stay on his feet as Takayasu uses that powerful overarm throw. Well, that was an exciting match. We move on though to Kim Bzon and Kirishima. Kirishima is finally healthy and looks like a usual contender. Kim Bzan has dropped four in a row. Fast start and a fast finish by Kirishima. getting to the rear of Kim Bzon and winning with a Okuri Tawoshi rear push down. He’s up to five and one. Kirishima looking in solid form and he’ll be a factor in the usual race. Here’s another look. Moving smoothly on the doho is Kirishima. Here are Ooma and Waka Taka Kagishimak. Waka Takag has been disappointing the last three days dropping all of those matches. OA with a typical Shin Kosubi first week grind facing everyone ranked above him. Best start by Waka Taka Kag as he moves back. O now with both arms inside. There’s the Waka Taka Kag that we are used to seeing. The Seekwake ends his losing streak and evens his overall record at 3 and three. Yikitti force out. Not unusual for Shincomi with a 1 and5 record. Wakataka Kag fast and determined. Slips both arms inside. And that was the key. Here’s Koto Zakura and Abby. Both are at three and two. The sole ozaki looks steadier now than he did on opening day. Abby recovering from left elbow surgery in May. Hitting and trying to shift to his left was Abby, but Copto Zakura literally hugging and chugging against Abby. Abby wanted to slide to his left at the Tachi, but Cotto Zakura grabs Abi’s upper body and then moves him backwards. So, Cotto Zakura looking good in that match. A Yori Kitty win. He improves to four and two dropping Abby to three and three. Our final match on day six. Teammates at Nepon Sports Science University. Today they are fighting for the first time as professional Yokuzuna Onoto versus Mayash 3 Ono Katu. Ono Sto at 4 and one. On Katu one and four. Fast start by Ono Katu. But Ono Sto says, “Thanks for coming. Things are much different now that we’re professionals compared to our college days. A one-sided victory for Ono Stoidi Push. Shinyokuna improves to five and one. Not a bad tachi from Onoatu, but he cannot budge Ono Sto. And the Shin Yokouna having no trouble picking up his fifth win. raising the upper body of Ono Katu and winning by Oshidashi. So after six days of action, we have a surprise soul leader, former Ozeki Mitakei, who is competing at my Gashida 16. Please join us every day for this July tournament.
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Day 6 upper division bouts from the July 2025 GRAND SUMO Tournament.