2025 Kyushu Basho: Day 3 results and analysis

Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Kyushu Basho (spoilers).

We are now three days into the Kyushu basho and life is great. We have sumo for the next week and a half and then I’ll be just two weeks away from finishing my first field placement. After that, Christmas — my favourite time of year. With that comes a break from classes and UFC events, which I have to write about.

Until then, though… lots of awesome action to break down from last night.

Scroll down to see what happened in the makuuchi, watch videos and read my analysis.

Thanks for being here everyone.

Bonus gif is this artist and his art.

“Start with eye brows...”

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Asakoryu (3-0) def. Chiyoshoma (2-1) by oshidashi (frontal push out)

• Kotoeiho (2-1) def. Sadanoumi (1-2) by yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Nishikifuji (2-1) def. Oshoumi (1-2) by oshidashi

• Shonannoumi (1-2) def. Tokihayate (2-1) by hatakikomi (slap down)

• Ryuden (2-1) def. Gonoyama (1-2) by yorikiri

• Mitakeumi (1-2) def. Tomokaze (0-3) by oshidashi

• Kotoshoho (2-1) def. Shishi (1-2) by yorikiri

• Fujinokawa (3-0) def. Daieisho (1-2) by oshidashi*

• Roga (2-1) def. Tobizaru (1-2) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*

• Ichiyamamoto (2-1) def. Kinbozan (1-2) by uwatenage*

• Midorifuji (1-2) def. Abi (2-1) by oshidashi*

• Atamifuji (2-1) def. Onokatsu (1-2) by oshidashi

• Shodai (1-2) def. Churanoumi (2-1) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*

• Tamawashi (2-1) def. Oshoma (1-2) by oshidashi

• Yoshinofuji (2-1) def. Ura (1-2) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*

• Wakamotoharu (1-2) def. Takanosho (0-3) by tsukiotoshi*

• Hiradoumi (2-1) def. Oho (2-1) by yorikiri

• Aonishiki (3-0) def. Hakuoho (1-2) by kubinage (headlock throw) after mono-ii (judges’ review) confirms gyoji (referee) decision*

• Takayasu (2-1) def. Kotozakura (1-2) by uchimuso (inner thigh propping twist down)*

• Hoshoryu (2-1) def. Kirishima (1-2) by yorikiri*

• Onosato (3-0) def. Wakatakakage (0-3) by oshidashi

*Must see bouts!

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• Too early!

Analysis

Onosato had a tough time with Hakuoho on Day 2 and needed to dig deep to prevent losing his third in a row to the up and comer. Last night, though, he beat the veteran Wakatakakage without breaking a sweat.

I feared Wakatakakage might experience a bit of a hangover tournament this month, after his extremely demoralizing September (where he lost his best chance ever at becoming an ozeki). He’s 0-3 now and, in this match, he couldn’t get close to the yokozuna (a man he’s fought very well against in the past).

We’re still very early in this competition, but Onosato seems to be hitting his stride. And that’s bad news for everyone else.

Hoshoryu notched his second win of the tournament last night, but he had to work very hard for it. Hoshoryu vs. Kirishima is always an exciting match-up. Kirishima had Hoshoryu on the ropes early, but Hoshoryu circled away from the straw and then tried to tackle one of Kirishima’s knees. Kirishima defended that, but then took too long to think of his next move. During a stalled clinch, Hoshoryu seized the initiative and squared up to Kirishima, put him off balance with his outside leg, and then muscled him over the line.

A win like that, over a very well-respected rival, could give Hoshoryu a nice little confidence bump heading into tonight.

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Aonishiki, along with Onosato, is one of just four wrestlers to be 3-0 right now. He stayed perfect with a headlock throw over Hakuoho. It was very close, though. Hakuoho’s strong push had Aonishiki needing to dig in early. When he realized he couldn’t move forwards, Aonishiki triggered his throw with tremendous speed. He hopped into the air to generate hangtime and extra torque on the throw. Both men landed almost in sync, but this is a pretty clear win for Aonishiki based on the infamous dead body rule. Hakuoho wasn’t doing anything to affect the outcome of the bout once he was taken off his feet.

Oho missed out on a chance to go 3-0. He was stopped by Hiradoumi, who seems buoyed by the crowd support on his native Kyushu. Last year, he had an awful time here, going 4-11 and looking like he wanted to hide from all the attention.

He put on a gaburi-yori (torso thrusting) clinic in this bout and was able to bounce Oho out before Oho could isolate an arm for a throw (which has become his newest trick, lately).

Shodai, also from Kyushu, managed a win last night, too. He beat the Okinawan Churanoumi in a very fun bout with lots of literal twists and turns.

Fujinokawa is from as far away from Kyushu as you can get. But the Hokkaido boy is wowing fans in the south with his gutsy sumo. He survived Daieisho’s best shot and then turned the tables on the former sekiwake. Again, it’s early, but this could be a coming out party for someone who is quickly becoming a fan favourite.

Yoshinofuji got a win last night, too. However, he earned it only after Ura missed on the utchari (backward pivot throw). On the previous night Mita suffered a devastating knee injury on that move (now confirmed to be an ACL tear). Wakamotoharu and Aonishiki also had a scary fall off the ring after Wakamotoharu attempted the move. Someone’s going to break their neck on one of these things some day.

Tomorrow’s action is headlined by Onosato vs. Kirishima. Onosato is 8-0 against the former ozeki. Hoshoryu has Wakatakakage. Those two are 8-8 against each other, but Hoshoryu has won the last five bouts.

All those bouts have happened after Wakatakakage returned from his ACL injury. How did he get hurt? Well he attempted an utchari on Kotozakura!

Tomorrow also has Kotozakura vs. Hakuoho and Aonishiki vs. Takanosho.

No utchari attempts, please!

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