Yokozuna Takanohana weathered a fierce clash with Chiyotaikai and muscled out the upset-minded ozeki to virtually wrap up his 22nd Emperor's Cup at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday.
Takanohana remained composed as Chiyotaikai unleashed a barrage of thrusts and slaps at the face-off of the day's main event at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan as he rolled to his 13th win.
Chiyotaikai (11-2), needing a win to draw even with the front-running grand champion and keep alive his title hopes, desperately backed the yokozuna near the edge of the ring but allowed Takanohana to get in close and then calmly escort him out of the ring.