Taking Down the Man-Mountain 山本山 vs 阿覧
The 187cm, 138kg number eleven maegashira Aran takes on the might of 191cm, 248kg number thirteen maegashira Yamatoyama, yesterday, at the Osaka Grand Sumo Tournament. Aran won this bout.
This was Sasha and my second visit to the Osaka Basho. We also went on the opening day. There were some great matches, but our favourite wrestlers (John - Harumafuji; Sash - Kaio) alas both lost. Just the two Yokozuna remain undefeated at this point. If I were a gambling man I'd put my money on the big Mongolian bruiser, the Rikishi that so many love to hate, Asashoryu. He's looked imperious this tournament, and seems to have shaken off the injuries which plagued him last year. Hakuho won't give up without a fight, mind you. I can envisage it all going down to the wire on the last day, Sunday, with the two Yokozuna facing off to decide the victor. Hope so! Actually no, I hope Harumafuji defeats them both - and a few others, to win the title, but I can't see that happening. He's not been fighting that well. Ever since he was promoted to Ozeki, his form has dropped. And I preferred his old name, Ama, too.
There are some interesting match-ups today. My man takes on the big Bulgarian Kotooshu, a fight that he will fancy his chances of winning. Kotooshu has admitted that he finds Haruma a particularly tricky opponent. I remember the smaller wrestler, when he was still Ama, picking up the huge, much heavier Koytooshu and spinning him above his head - and out of the ring - during a match last year. I hope he does it again today.
Baruto vs Asashoryu (Come on the Estonian shepherd!); Hakuho vs Kotomitsuki (come on Miki!); Kaio vs Chiyotaikai (the battle of the Kyushu Ozeki. I hope Sumo's gentleman smashes the former Bosozoku, Come on Kaio!).
また相撲見に行きました。残念私達大好きな力士達両方負けました。（John: 日馬富士 Sasha:魁皇). 今日、琴欧洲vs日馬富士 朝青龍vs把瑠都 魁皇vs千代大海 白鵬vs琴光喜です。面白い！
幕内成績優秀者
全勝：朝青龍、白鵬
2敗：魁皇、琴光喜
3敗：琴欧洲、日馬富士、栃煌山、豪風、安美錦、豊真将、黒海、岩木山、朝赤龍、阿覧、千代白鵬、山本山、玉鷲、木村山
