Kotogouryuu

Tochimusashi J06E

I wast thinking exactly this as I watched the match. Hoshoryu was aggressive and moved fast. But it's not like Kotozakura just stood there, he maintained his position with skill and deflected Hoshoryu's attack, until the latter was made to overexert himself. Kotozakura used a lot of skill and power, even if it wasn't as flashy as Hoshoryu's offence.

Something just seems off with him sometimes. It's how he lost his ozeki rank, and after a couple of much better basho, he's lost again. I can't claim that someone at sekiwake rank doesn't try, but that's what I see on the footage.

I can't imagine this didn't occur to him. It isn't the first time in head to head sports something like this happens; there would have been some serious prestige available had he won over Onosato straight up. The first thing that comes to mind is in UFC when Frank Mir tried to outbox Junior Dos Santos. Sometimes a top level athlete just has to back themselves up and believe they can beat the best at their own game. Of course, history will only remember the winners..

Abi could have brought a gun and he still would have lost. Onosato is going to make things interesting in the near future. Unless, of course, he gets horribly injured. I'm getting a little cautious with the hype trains...

If anybody wonders why they sometimes give what seems like an extra push when their opponent appears to be on the way out already, Kirishima showed today what happens if you don't.

As I understand it, he had to be persuaded to have a professional sumo career in the first place. His main weapon, leg movement, is gone with injuries. I don't see him hanging on if he drops.

I wouldn't judge him based on this match alone. His tachiai was tentative, and he didn't really have time to do anything after that. Who knows what he could have done had he gone for the belt straight away.

I wouldn't be surprised. He's managed to hang in there for a long time for his size and style. He's clearly slowing down, which has made his weapons dull. Time catches us all.

Yamada, Ms2W

That was a flash of what Endo did so well before his injury. His legwork is phenomenal.

Yeah I was wondering about that. There was a very distinct head-meets-hard surface -sound when Ura fell. Their attitude towards head injuries is still shamefully lax.

Just a guess: Something in between. Probably not a full reset, but they'd have to be impressive in their next outing.

Oshoma J3W

How would you say he compares to others with a total of six basho of experience in sumo?