2025 Kyushu Basho: Day 7 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Kyushu Basho (spoilers).
Coming to you with a late post this Saturday.
I drove to my parents this morning and then took Mini Sumo Stomp! to the Hamilton Santa Claus parade. That was much longer than expected (and also wetter and colder).
I watched Day 7 after that was done and now I’m writing my thoughts while also doing live play-by-play for UFC 322 over on MMA Mania.
If you are both reading this and planning on watching UFC 322 tonight, why not hang out in my buddy’s live stream?
Anyways, scroll down for the results, highlights and analysis for the latest day at the 2025 Kyushu basho (it was a good one!)
Bonus gif today is Abi and his misfiring machine gun arms.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Nishikifuji (5-2) def. Asakoryu (5-2) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asanoyoma (5-2) def. Tokihayate (5-2) by yorikiri
Sadanoumi (2-5) def. Ryuden (4-3) by yorikiri
Chiyoshoma (4-3) def. Mitakeumi (3-4) by yorikiri
Roga (4-3) def. Oshoumi (1-6) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Shishi (2-5) def. Shonannoumi (2-5) by yorikiri
Gonoyama (4-3) def. Kotoshoho (4-3) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Daieisho (5-2) def. Tomokaze (1-6) by oshidashi
Fujinokawa (6-1) def. Tobizaru (3-4) by oshitaoshi (forward push down)*
Churanoumi (4-3) def. Abi (2-5) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Onokatsu (3-4) def. Midorifuji (2-5) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Kinbozan (2-5) def. Atamifuji (5-2) by uwatenage
Shodai (3-4) def. Ichiyamamoto (3-4) by yorikiri
Yoshinofuji (6-1) def. Hiradoumi (2-5) by yorikiri*
Hakuoho (3-4) def. Oshoma (3-4) by yorikiri
Wakatakakage (2-5) def. Takanosho (1-6) by okuridashi
Kirishima (4-3) def. Oho (3-4) by oshitaoshi*
Aonishiki (6-1) def. Takayasu (4-3) by yorikiri*
Wakamotoharu (3-4) def. Kotozakura (2-5) by uwatenage*
Hoshoryu (5-2) def. Tamawashi (4-3) by yorikiri*
Onosato (7-0) def. Ura (3-4) by uwatehineri (twisting over arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Y1e Onosato: 7-0
S1e Aonishiki, M5e Yoshinofuji, M12e Fujinokawa: 6-1
Analysis
Onosato remains in the lead of this basho. He stretched his record to 7-0 last night with a win over Ura. The Peach Prince made him work for it, though!
Ura tried to stick and move against Onosato, hitting him, then separating and ducking, before driving upwards to hit him again. That tactic was enough for Onosato to ditch the idea of forcing Ura backwards. Instead he went to his favourite back-up move; the hatakikomi.
It hasn’t been a walk in the park for Onosato these seven days, but he’s still looked incredible. After a week, he’s the heavy favourite to take this thing home.
Hoshoryu got a win last night and he also had to work hard for it. He went up against Tamawashi, his countryman and elder. I feel like Tamawashi fights extra hard against his fellow Mongolians. He was a brute in this one, going toe-to-toe with yokozuna. After exchanging blows, the separated and had a brief stare down. Tamawashi acted first after that, lowering his head and spearing himself into Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu used that as an opportunity to clinch and put an end to all that thrusting business. Once he was on the belt he easily forced out the tired Tamawashi. Hoshoryu might have given Tamawashi a stink eye after that one.
Add Aonishiki to the list of sumotori who had their hands full last night. He and Takayasu had a very competitive, back and forth, bout. The win came after Aonishiki defended an uwatenage attempt and then side-stepped Takayasu out of the ring. Both men fell to the ground and Aonishiki took a very rough looking bump. That’s the second one of those he’s taken this week.
Yoshinofuji stayed close to Onosato by beating Hiradoumi, in yet another close and exhausting battle. He, again, showed his yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) chops by defending Hiradoumi’s gaburi-yori (torso thrusts) and whipping him around to keep him on the boundary before eventually getting the win. He’s looked excellent this week.
The legend of Fujinokawa continues to grow. Last night the Cobra Chicken defeated the Flying Monkey. He slammed Tobizaru down, with authority, to pick up another crowd pleasing win. With Asakoryu and Tokihayate losing last night, Fujinokawa, Kusano and Aonishiki are the only wrestlers with 6-1 records.
Kotozakura is way off the pace in this basho. He’s looking about as rusty as he has done all year, which suggests he may have had a re-occurrence or an aggravation of his knee injury. He was thrown over by Wakamotoharu last night.
Onosato will look for 8-0 tonight when he faces Tamawashi. Let’s see if Tamawashi shows as much piss and vinegar as he did against Hoshoryu. Onosato is 4-1 against the Iron Man.
Hoshoryu gets his turn with Pink Magic tonight. He’s 9-6 against Ura.
Aonishiki meets Oho, Yoshinofuji has Wakamotoharu and Fujinokawa fights Tomokaze.
Have a good night, folks!
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My man Ura almost got it done. Almost. Well... *almost* almost.
Thanks Tim. Great tournament.