GRAND SUMO: Day 12 of the July 2025 Tournament – GRAND SUMO Highlights
Welcome back to Grand Sumo Highlights. It is day 12 from steamy Nagoya. The usual race is heating up. It is led by four rank and file Mayagashida Koto Sho rookie Kusano Ichi Yamamoto and Ukrainian Aishki none of whom have won a top division championship before. So the usual race is wide open and exciting sumo is promised on these final four days. Here’s the full leaderboard. The group of four in first place and a group of six right behind led by Shinyokuna Onoto. From the brand new IG Arena, the names on the leaderboard are pretty much smashed up head-to-head. So, it’s an exciting Toi Kumi. We start with Tommo Kaz and Hide Noi. Hiden umi returning from a calf injury but showing zero deashi. Meanwhile, Tommo Kaz is doing okay in judo. Tommoaz gets started with his pushing attack and he drops Hideeno Umi. That right calf has ruined Hideen Umi’s tournament. He only has one win. Although it’s not official. There’s a monoe. Don’t know what happened there. Seemed pretty clear that Tommo Kaz won by slapdown. Here’s the call from the judge. The goji made a mistake and pointed his gumbai to Hideumi. The winner is Tommoaz. So that’s unusual. The goji pointed his gumbai in the wrong direction. Tommoazi winning by slap down. So he improves to seven and five. Moving on to Midori Fuji and Shishi. Big versus small. Midori Fuji one win away from Kachi Koshi. Unlike fellow Ukrainian Anish Kishi has been on the decline. Inside position by small Midori Fuji. He’s pushing up on the upper body of Shishi. Shishi not showing any offense. Now they separate and Shishi is able to push down Midori Fuji denying Midori Fuji uh Kachikoshi. But wait, there’s another Monoi. So what happened here? Oh, Shishi grabbing the top knot of Midori Fuji. The guoji favored Shishi, but a mono was called over a possible topnot grab. It was confirmed that Shishi grabbed Midori Fuji’s top knot. Therefore, Midori Fuji wins by infraction. Frustration for Shishi. The victory is awarded to Midori Fuji. So Midori Fuji backs into a Kachi Koshi on day 12. He’s up to eight and four. Aanoku in Japanese. Here’s Takosho and Cotojo. Rookie Kotojo trying to avoid Mak Koshi. Hard charging Takosho going for Kachi Koshi. Big hit by Takosho and he gives Koto a rude welcome to the top division with that push down. Oshi Taoshi Takosho indeed picks up his allimportant eighth victory. Here’s Fujinoa and Toki Hayate. They have never fought before. Two guys on the smaller side. Fujinoa has been a pleasant surprise in his debut in the top division. Fast start by Fujinoa. He’s moving back. Toki Hayate has a left hand or right hand outside grip and uses that for an impressive uate nag overarm throw. I thought Fujino would be overmatched given his small size but he has proved me wrong. He is now one win away from Kachi Koshi which is the goal of every newcomer to the top division. Nag beautifully done. Next up are Atami Fuji and Mitakei. These two guys are on the leaderboard. Both at 8 and three. Mitakeumi more than 10 years older than Atami Fuji. Head-to-head, the younger man leads four-2. Mitakumi moves back at Fuji, but Atami Fuji rallies and pushes out Mitakumi. So, it’s a Tukidashi thrust out victory for Tommy Fuji and he picks up his ninth win. That’s a thrust out. Mitaki appeared to have the better tachi, but Atami Fuji firmly planted, winning by thrust out. Here are Kaio and Chio. Both men struggling. Chio had a third back operation at the end of May. So he is winless. A slap attempt by Chio. Kaio has really had a hard time in the top division and he gets dropped by Chio. So some relief for Chio from his back pain. He picks up his first victory in Nagagoya. It’s an over arm throwatt nag. He didn’t want to go 0 and 15. Here are Sadoi and Chani. Both men staying low at the tachi. Judanoi pushes out Sadanoi immediately. Veteran Sadan Omi getting punished at Mashidita 8 while Churan Omi picks up his seventh win. Okuridashi rear push out. Moving right along to Tobi Zadu and Asakodu. Both at three and eight already with Mak Koshi just trying to stop the bleeding are these two. Both men quite agile. You would think they would use the entire dojo in this match. Hard to say who has the advantage at this point. They lock up. It’s an upper body battle. Neither man appears to have a moashi grip, though. Who’s going to spring a move? It’s Toby Zu who gets dropped by Asa Kodu. That looked like a painful Kot Nag arm locked throw. Asakodu asking Tobaru if he’s okay. Tobadu holding that right arm. Funny. So that really had to hurt. In addition to losing the match, Toby Zadu had his right arm yanked by Asakoru with that Kot Nag on the dojo now. Taku Fuji and Shai. Former Ozaki Shai seeking his first kachi koshi since September last year. Taku Fuji with a right bicep injury that he suffered on day six and that has ruined his tournament but he blasts shai shai absorbing that tachi and then calmly steps to the side and wins by thrust down ski. So Shai has seen it all in his long career and he took Tako Fuji’s best shot and won. Here’s Roga and Gonoyama. Both men putting together a solid tournament. Goyama at six and five. Roa has won five straight and going for his Kachi Koshi right here. Goyama with a very sharp tati and takes Roga backwards. Imp impressive strength and speed by Gonoyama as he manhandles Roga. Both men now at seven and five. Here are Uda and May. It’s May’s 30th birthday today, but he has a terrible record. Three and eight. Make Koshi. Uda going for Hakachi Koshi. He’s at seven and four. Fast hard Tati. They separate. Uda stays low. Has an inside position on me. Me trying to slap down. They separate once again. And this time Uda is successful with the Hataki Ki. So Uda picks up his first Kachi Koshi since September last year. He’s had four straight losing tournaments, but bounces back here in Nagagoya. An eighth victory with that Hataki Komi. No matter what his record, Uda is popular among sumo fans, so they are cheering for him loudly. It’s a thrusting battle throughout this match and Uda is the victor. Here are Onoatsu and Hakuo. Young Hakuo, he’s all about raw power at the Tachi. Onatsu has a losing record but has won his last three bouts. Off they go. Hakuo slamming into Onoatu and doing what he does best. Nothing fancy. Simply charging forward and he defeats Onoatsu with that Oshidashi push out. He’s up to seven and five. Oh, five and seven. Here’s a Mashida 2 showdown between Oho and Abi. Ohho’s highlight was his first career Kimoshi when he defeated Ono Santo. Abby is still recovering from left elbow surgery. Abby whiffs on his thrusting attempt at the Tati, but he gets to the rear of Oh, and wins with ease. So, Abby wins by Okuridashi rear push out. He hands Oh, a Mak Koshi eighth loss. Our first big bout on day 12. a co-leader up against Iron Man Tamawashi. Aishki born in 2004, Tamawashi in 1984. A world apart and meeting for the very first time. Off they go. Tamawashi getting started with his thrusting attack, but Aishki with his strong core muscles holds his ground. Now he gets an inside position. So that’s an advantage for Aishki. And he once again shows a spectacular wrestling like move with that nag underarm throw. He has a wrestling background and putting those skills to use in sumo. Anishki holds on to a share of the lead in the usual race. This is only his third tournament in the top division. He’s been in professional sumo less than two years, but such a skilled athlete is Alishki with that beautifulag. Moving on to Kim Bzon and Waka Moto Hadu. Both men disappointing in Nagoya at three and eight. Shifting a bit was Kim Bzan at the Tati, but Wakamoto was ready for that. He wasn’t fooled at all. Kim Boszan stepped to his left and that gave Wakamoto Hadu an opening to get an deep inside position and he has no trouble winning by Okuridashi rear push out. Up next, O Shoma and Hi Umi. Hi umi a streaky guy 0 and3 then five straight wins but has lost his last three bouts. Not unusual for a Shin Kubi like him to have a disastrous tournament. They start off low then they separate. Hiradomi gets an inside position with that right hand inside. Hiradomi looks to be in a strong position or Shoma a bit upright. Hiradomi can’t finish off Osh. Now he has a deep inside position. Hiradi drops O. Oshoma caught on the defensive throughout that match and Hi Radui snaps his losing streak and improves to six and six. Yodi Tawoshi frontal crush out. Here’s our next big match. Co-leader Cotto Sho against Takayasu. You might be surprised that they’ve met several times since 2020. You won’t be surprised that Takayasu has dominated. Six wins, two losses. That includes five straight against Koto. Off they go. Takayasu can’t put on the brakes as Cotto Sho surprises Takayasu by stepping to the side and Cotto Sho wins by Hataki Ki slapdown. Looked like Takayasu would once again easily defeat Cotto Sho, but Cotto Sho stepped to the side and Takayasu could not put on the brakes. Look at this. Everything going well for Takayasu, but then Koto steps to his right. So, Cotto Sho snaps his five match losing streak to Takayasu. Next up, another biggie featuring another coal leader. Rookie Kusano against Waka Taka K. This is no ordinary rookie though. He had a great amateur career at Nihong University and now is facing his strongest opponent yet as a professional. Fast hard Tati Waka Takag so good at getting an inside position against larger opponents. Waka Takag has the technique and finesse to defeat young strong newcomers which he does against Kusano. So class was in session for Kusado sumo class that is as he gets schooled by seiwake waka taka kag. So Kusano falls out of a share of the lead and Waka Takag picks up his kachi koshi. Kusano started off well, but Waka Taka Kag so good as I said during the live match at getting an inside position against much larger opponents and using that to raise the upper body and center of gravity of newcomer Kusano. eventually flattening the rookie. Here’s another angle. Beautifully done by the Seiwake Yori Tawushi. Our next match is Kirishima who name is on the leaderboard against disappointing oi Koto Zakura. Headto-head Kirishima leads 13 to4. Koto Zakura the sole ozaki competing but he’s not in the usual race doing a bit of thrusting to start. Now they lock upto Zakura in an upright position but he doesn’t mind fighting that way. You can see Kotto Zakura with his right arm inside. Looks like he’s trying to lift up the upper body of Kirishima. Kirishima with the left hand outside, right hand inside combination loses that grip, but Kirishima stays tight on Koto Zakura, but Cotto Zakura takes him backwards. Koto Zakura makes up for his disappointing Bossho by knocking off Kirishima. So Cotto Zakura picks up his seventh win by Yori Kitty force out. Kirishima falls to eight and four and off the leaderboard. In previous matches, Kirishima has dominated Cotto Zakura, but that was not the case today. Kirishima got off to a pretty good tachi and had Cotto Zakura upright, but Koto Zakura doesn’t mind fighting this way. He eventually slips an arm inside on Kirishima and uses his bigger body to move back Kirishima. Here’s another angle. It ends up as a Yikitti win for Cotto Zakura. Our final bout of the day is one of our bouts of the day. Co-leader Ichi Yamamoto facing Shin Yokouna Ono. They have met twice before in Makunuchi. Onos having no trouble defeating the Mayashira Ichi Yamamoto. Ichiamoto has really varied his attack going to the moashi in addition to as usual going for an inside position is Ichi Yamamoto and he pushes out. The goji points his gumbai to Ichi Yamamoto but there’s a monoi. Let’s see where Ichi Yamamoto touched down in relation to where Ono Sto was on the dojo. Oh, it’s so close at the end. Keep an eye on the feet of Onos as well as the body of Ichi Yamamoto. The Gioji pointed his gumbai to Ichi Yamamoto. The goji gave the win to Ichi Yamamoto, but his knee touched down at the same time as Ono Santo went airborne. So, we will have a rematch. It’s such a big match and that was so close at the end. The rematch seems like the fairest option for the judges. Just like the first match, Ichi Yamamoto surges forward, but Odoto has the answer and he defeats Ichi Yamamoto for the third time in Makunoi. Ichi Yamamoto loses his share of the lead and Onos has an oshidashi win. So both men now at 9 and three. Onosato didn’t want to give a give up a fourth Kimoshi this tournament and in their rematch onto leaves no doubt who the better Nikshi is. So that means the two leaders are Aishki and Koto Sho. Two rank and file men, but one step behind are Onoto, Ichiyamoto, Atami Fuji, and Kusano. It promises to be an exciting final three days here in Nagagoya.
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Day 12 upper division bouts from the July 2025 GRAND SUMO Tournament.