Ozeki Musoyama saddled Takanohana with his first loss of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, spoiling the yokozuna's chance to claim an early victory in the 15-day tourney and giving stablemate Musashimaru a chance to win it all Sunday.
Musashimaru, meanwhile, shoved down ozeki Chiyotaikai in a match between wrestlers with 11-2 records to keep his title hopes alive at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan -- even though he will need a pair of wins against Takanohana on Sunday to claim the championship.
In Saturday's main event, Takanohana and Musoyama came to grips at center ring off the charge and the yokozuna appeared to have the advantage as he repeatedly forced the ozeki to the straw bales, appearing to have him on the verge of stepping out.