GRAND SUMO- Day 3 of the November 2025 Tournament - GRAND SUMO Highlights

Hello and welcome. The Grand Sumo highlights day three of the Kyushu tournament from the International Center and this man was scintillating yesterday. Brilliant on day two after his day one loss when he blew away Takanoshio. An early loss but we're really hoping that we do see an exciting finish like we had in the September tournament where the two Yokozuna meet on the final day for all the marbles. He's got work to do and so have we over the next days to come. Exciting tournament in progress. Well the fans are in number once again. Let's get to the action. They're ready so are we as we kick off with Chiyo Shoma and Asakoryu. Both Maegashira 17 and both with a great start. Chiyo Shoma he likes to go for that outside grip if he can. Asakoryu moves forward well and he uses his speed to advantage. Fast away pulling there as Chiyo Shoma and Asakoryu blows him away for an Oshidashi win. His first loss Chiyo Shoma and Asakoryu off to a great start. Three straight wins for him. Now up from Juryo Koto Eiho taking on Sada Naomi. They're both one and one. Koto Eiho back in the Juryo division trying to claw his way back up. He's at Juryo 2. Sada Naomi a local man. He's from Kumamoto. The fans like to see the locals win. In quickly is Sada Naomi but he's blocked straight away by Koto Eiho. He's got a strong right hand inside. Nothing happening with the left for Sada Naomi and Koto Eiho takes care of him. In a first time meeting the man from Juryo wins. Two and one Koto Eiho. Sada Naomi falls to one and two. Yorikiri. Nishiki Fujii a returnee. Magashida 15 takes on the rookie Oshio Umi. They are both one and one. First time meeting obviously in the top division. They've met in Juryo twice and have a win each. They both like to get the grip on the Mawashi if possible. Well it's a thrusting and pushing attack from both of them. No Mawashi involved here. Oshio Umi is trying to get in and under but he's kept away by Nishiki Fujii who moves forward and he stays in just even though Oshio Umi spins to try to avoid the loss. It's a win for Nishiki Fujii. Two and one Oshio Umi. One and two. Oshidashi. Shonan Umi the laboring Shonan Umi takes on informed Toki Hayate. Toki Hayate two straight wins and Shonan Umi the big man looking for his first win of the tournament. History does favor Toki Hayate. He's won three. Shonan Umi's won two in their head-to-head in the top division. They both want the left hand inside but Shonan Umi's keeping Toki Hayate away thrusting but retreating and he often wins like that. Slaps down Toki Hayate for his first win and the first loss of the tournament for Toki Hayate. Slap down. Gonoyama and Yuden step up on the clay. All one-way traffic here for Gonoyama. He's won and won. He's won all bouts that they've met. Four in the top division and one in Makusta. So Yuden's never beaten him. Is today the day? Good start. Gonoyama takes Yuden back but Yuden wants to Mawashi. He gets it. Left shallow. That's his favorite position. Now what can he do with it? In the past Gonoyama's managed to spit away and still win. Moving forward well is Yuden and he finally wins. Finally beats Gonoyama and relief and a bloodied eye unfortunately. So a first for Yuden. He's two and one. Gonoyama falls to one and two. It's a yorikiri win for Yuden. Mitake Umi and Tomokaze. Both pushers. There's not a lot of thrusting in there Sumo. So this man will get in tight where possible and just try and force back Tomokaze. Tomokaze if he doesn't get it done early often tries to win going backwards. Soft touchy eye. They're both fending at each other with a Hazawoshi to the right. Otsuke from the right with Tomokaze trying to fend off but not successfully. And Mitake Umi wins by oshidashi. So he picks up his first win of the tournament. Unfortunately Tomokaze three straight losses. The battle of power there won by Mitake Umi. Shishi and Koto Shouho. They've met three times before. Shishi tried to even the ledger. He won the first time they met in the top division. Koto Shouho has won the last two. They're both one and one. Bang left hand shallow Koto Shouho. It's all over. Big giant step backwards by Shishi and out he goes yorikiri. Because Koto Shouho didn't know he'd stepped out he kept moving forward. And he picks up his second win. So that's three in a row he's beaten Shishi. That was a speedy touchy eye. Look at that shallow left. Can't see it from there but he's controlling the bout and out goes that foot. Very solid sumo. Two tournaments ago he won. Now the first of our bouts of the day takes on two pusher thrusters. They're meeting for just the second time. This man has a lot of speed. A lot of lateral movement. He's hard to catch. But Daisho has experience on his side. The former Sekiwake. He won the only time they met in September. This should be a good battle. Fast away Fujinokawa thrusting Daisho. But those thrusts are being deflected. Fujinokawa pounces back inside and takes all the hits. Lunging forward to the edge and out goes Daisho. Fujinokawa wins and remains perfect. Daisho drops to one and two. And Fujinokawa the magashin at 12 has three straight wins. An excitement machine. He gives it his all every time he's up there. There's no soft touchy high from Fujinokawa in any of his bouts. Win or lose he leaves it all on the dohyo. And he gives it all there. Swatting and pulling and almost slipping but winning is Fujinokawa. Now Roga and Tobizaru. Three previous meetings. Two of them favoring Tobizaru. Both men go into this bout with a one and one record. Roga good at throwing. Tobizaru well he just likes to keep moving. Bang good hit Roga. But now Tobizaru right hand inside briefly. Now left hand inside tries a trip there. That doesn't work. Standing his ground well is Roga. In tight Tobizaru tries a leg sweep. That doesn't knock Roga off his balance. And now he pulls a throw. A watenage. Oh that was excellent footwork. And he may have hurt himself by trying that sweep attempt with the foot. But Roga wins by a watenage. The overarm throw to pick up his second win. Tobizaru one and two. Ichiyamamoto Kimbozan. Two pusher thrusters. They've met five times. Kimbozan's won three. He likes to extend and keep away from an opponent with that long reach. Got a bit of moshi technique lately. This man Ichiyamamoto. Good start by Kimbozan. Takes Ichiyamamoto back but not for long. He starts to move forward. Tries to get forward. Keeps the head down. Now he's got Kimbozan moving forward. Steps to the side. Happy feet. Ichiyamamoto dancing on air. As he picks up his second win and evens their rivalry. He wins by a watenage. Just a brief touch with the left hand on the back of the mawashi. Looked a little bit like a takikomi. But I think he does get a brief touch with a fingernail to indicate it might have been an overarm throw. They're really keeping up the pressure on each other. Now as he moves forward. What's the left hand of Ichiyamoto there? That's the iwate. As brief as it was. Now Midorifuji and Abi. Five previous meetings. Trying to square the ledger here. Because he's won two. But Abi has won the last three in a row. We know what he likes to do. Extend those two arms. Morikazuki. And then work from there. Can't get the extension. Abi pulling on the arm. Here's Midorifuji. Takes Abi back. Almost going down. He tries a slapping attempt but out he goes. Oshidashi. A popular win. Midorifuji evens the rivalry. He gets his first win. And Abi falls to two and one. Atamifuji and Onokazu. They've only met once before. That was in March. Onokazu was the winner. They both like to work the mawashi. Very serious poker face on Atamifuji. In quickly. Can't get his favorite grip right hand inside. He's got the left in Onokazu. That's not what he wants. Neither man with their preferred grip. But Atamifuji seems to be applying all the pressure. Gets the hand to the chin. And wins by Oshidashi. So evens their rivalry. He goes to two and one. Onokazu. At Maegashira six. Both of them. That rank is one and two. Chironomi and Shodai. They have met five times. Chironomi won the first three. Shodai's won the last two. The now 34 year old Shodai. At Maegashira five. Looking for his first win. Slams him with the chest. Moves Chironomi back. He's got Shodai in trouble. Gets to the rear but he spins around and gets out of trouble. Now he's set. Gets to the edge. And now he's almost going out. But he just pivots. A little tsuki otoshi thrust with the right hand. And down goes Chironomi with a disappointment. For his first loss. First win of this basho. For Shodai. Clever. Clever. He looked all but gone. And it was just a pivot. A swivel of the hips. A little tap with the right hand on the shoulder. Coming up. As Chironomi lunges forward. There's the tap. Goodbye. Good comeback win at the edge by Shodai. Tamawashi and Oshoma. Big sumo yesterday. So much power. He'll bring it again today. Oshoma you've got to be careful. He wins a lot of his bouts retreating. Sometimes laterally. Good hit by Tamawashi. Drives Oshoma back. He now retreats. Tries to escape from Tamawashi but he cannot do that. And it's an oshidashi win for this Ironman. Two and one Tamawashi. One and two Oshoma. That's four wins in a row now for Tamawashi over Oshoma. Two days in a row he's displayed power sumo. Just moving forward. Keeping the head down. Following his opponent whichever way he may go. Keeping up the pressure. Yoshino Fujii and Ura. Still trying to get used to the fact that he's Yoshino Fujii. Former Kusano taking on Mr. Popularity Ura. They've met twice. A win each. And they're both one and one after two days. Hard and fast Ura goes low but thrusting is Yoshino Fujii. Goes deep at the edge. An attempted throw going backwards by Ura but he was already down and out. Then Yoshino Fujii wins. Two and one Ura. The disappointment of the crowd drops to one and two. Yoritaoshi. Frontal crush out. Replaying it in his mannerisms there. Good thrusting attack Yoshino Fujii. A couple of them missed. Ura tried to go deep and get in and under but that's good coverage by Yoshino Fujii. Very close. Very close. The heel. Takenosho and Wakamoto Haru. Both winless. The rivalry is even. Six times they've met. Three wins each. We know he wants to use the right hand to affect to the chin or the throat and man on the right wants the left hand. Left hand in by Wakamoto Haru. No. Right hand for Takenosho. He's at the edge and a thrust down win by Wakamoto Haru. Lovely work. Knowing where the Tawara is. The rice bale. How much room he had going backwards and just pivots and thrust down Takenosho who remains winless. Wakamoto Haru picks up his first win of the This is very clever. Awkward position for Takenosho. Nothing going with his favorite right hand. And watch the pivot here. Just twists and a little thrust. Hironomi and Oho. Good rivalry here. They've met 12 times. Hironomi's won seven of them. If Oho gets his thrusting and pushing attack going he could be winning here. Hironomi it's all about the speed. Good hit by Hironomi. Right hand deep. Left hand shallow. Gets the Mawashi. Has Oho high and out. Lovely hand placement. Lovely hand placement by Hironomi with that left hand outside grip and the right hand in and under to not allow Oho anything happening from that side of his body. So he's two and one. And so is Oho. Excellent placement left hand. Keeps that right hand in so the elbow is high. The arm is high. Can't do anything with it. Takes him to the edge and over. A yorikiri win. What an outstanding matchup here. Aonishiki and Haku Oho. The history between them. It's one way traffic. Only three bouts but they've all been won by Aonishiki. Aonishiki so solid. But he's got a tough opponent here even though he's owned him so far. If he gets that left hand in and under he can be lethal. The left hand's in for Haku Oho. Taken back is Aonishiki but he grabs the neck and pulls the throw. They go down. The gumbai goes. Aonishiki. This is tight. Very close. Kimura Konosuke has pointed to Aonishiki. That is extremely close. Our conclusion. Although the Gyoji gave the gumbai to Aonishiki there was a monoe that they landed on the dohyo at the same time. Upon review we confirmed that Haku Oho's elbow touched the clay first. The winner is still Aonishiki. That was close. That was very close. There'll be discussions about maybe it was maybe it wasn't but the ruling goes the way of Aonishiki. So four straight he has now against Haku Oho and has a perfect start with three straight wins. Disappointing Haku Oho. Initially I thought maybe the back of the hand of Aonishiki might have touched first but it looked like the shoulder went down first. The left shoulder of Haku Oho appeared to touch first as Aonishiki released the grip at the very edge. But that's a desperate move. Kubinage. He wins though. They met 12 times. This man's won five of them. Always a throwing technique involved with these or usually. Slamming bodies. Looking for the left hand in is Takayasu being blocked by the Ozegi. Kota Zakura denying him that left hand inside but what can he do in a positive fashion? Grabs the arm briefly. Now a throat attack by Kota Zakura. Looks a little tentative. Takayasu still wants that left hand inside. He's trying to get it. He's got it now. He's got his favorite left. He pulls and it looks like Statehimeri but I think there was a tap on the knee. At the same time very well could be Ichimuso. Almost in combination. This pulling throw. The twisting throw. And the tap with the right hand on the leg of Kota Zakura. Ichimuso it is. So we might get a better angle here in the replay. Once Takayasu eventually gets the left hand in on the Mawashi. It looked like he was trying a twisting throw. A Hineri. But it appears the right hand has whacked against the leg. The thigh or the knee of Kota Zakura to bring him down. His left hand's just about there now. So what's the right hand? The right hand. Boom. Right on the leg. The win for Takayasu. Drops Ozeki to one and two. Takayasu two and one. Congratulations. Thank you. Surprising to see a win by such a rare technique. Well I was very aware of what I was doing the whole time. It's the first time that technique in a tournament that I've used it. But I do practice all kind of techniques when I'm training. How do you evaluate your sumo after three days? I feel I've been in good shape. So far good I think. I'll try my best on each day and I hope I can lead me to next big steps. Now Kirishima and Hoshiori looking forward to this one. Great history between the two. 22 times they've met. Kirishima's won 10. Hoshiori was scintillating yesterday with his tachi-ai. Seven of the 10 wins for this man have been by a wate or wate dashi-nage. So he wants the right hand outside grip. He can't get it with a thrusting attack. Ryokozuna grabs with the right. Now he goes deep with the left. Has him on the melee go around. Kirishima who's in an awkward position. Can't pull anything from here but he is blocking trying a kirikaeshi leg attempt. But takes him to the edge and out in the end wins by Yorikiri. Good leg placement. Good foot placement by the Ryokozuna. To defeat the Magashira 2 who was looking for his first career kimbosh. Two and one now the Ryokozuna. One and two Kirishima. Had a lot of moving parts this bout. Good start by the Ryokozuna getting that thrusting attack going and Kirishima lost the grip with the left hand there and that put him in all sorts of trouble. He did have a solid left hand grip for a while but the Ryokozuna got into a much better position. Dominant and he almost goes for kirikaeshi but then lifts him up takes him to the edge and wins by frontal force out Yorikiri. The final bout here on day three. Ryokozuna Onosato takes on Wakatagakage. Mirror records they have met seven times. Onosato has won the last five in a row. Of course means Wakatagakage won the first two times they met. What can he do? Can he upset the Ryokozuna here? Two-arm thrust by the Ryokozuna takes Wakatagakage back and out. So the answer to my question is not a lot. Onosato overpowering Wakatagakage to win by oshidashi. Three straight. So four men share the lead. Onosato, Aonishiki, Fujinokawa and Asakori. Two men we expected to be there and be there at the end of the tournament but after just three days they're the only two top division men near the very top on the leaderboard with three straight wins but that the two-arm thrust Wakatagakage can't get inside he's taken back he pulls and he goes out easily. A comfortable win really probably not in his head but in terms of how it looked on the dojo it was an easy win for Onosato. There it is day three action concluded. Another exciting day sumo. Let's hope it continues each and every day. Come back and join us tomorrow for more grand sumo highlights.