Yokozuna Musashimaru brutalized yet another wishful opponent for an easy win Monday while ozeki Kaio fell to his second straight loss at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Musashimaru, making a bid for his third straight tournament title, overpowered a hyped-up Takamisakari in the day's final bout of the 15-day tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium for his second win in as many days.
Second-ranked maegashira Takamisakari (0-2) outdueled Musashimaru at the face-off, but slammed into a brick wall and was abruptly pounded into submission and over the edge with a devastating frontal thrust-out from the Samoa-born grand champion.
Meanwhile, Kaio, who is bothered by a nagging sore left arm, moved hesitantly throughout his bout with Dejima, struggling to get a handle on the left-side of the third-rank maegashira.
Dejima (2-0), a former ozeki himself, wasted little time shoving his ailing opponent over the ring's edge for a convincing win and a stellar start after a string of persistent health problems.
Chiyotaikai (2-0) made mincemeat of Mongolian Kyokushuzan (0-2), plowing the No. 2 maegashira over the edge, while Tochiazuma (2-0) spun around komusubi Miyabiyama (0-2) for a rear push-out.
In other premier bouts, Mongolian sekiwake Asashoryu, normally known for his fire and flash, was a picture of composure as he calmly ushered fourth-ranked Takanowaka (1-1) out with a frontal force-out for his second win.
No. 7 maegashira Takanonami (2-0), a former ozeki, held sixth-rank Kotomitsuki in his trademark arm-lock for an interminable period before flinging the home crowd favorite over the straw bales.
Kotomitsuki (1-1) plummeted from his sekiwake ranking after suffering a broken jaw in the spring meet and sat out the summer tournament in May.
Mongolian Kyokutenho was wrenched forward and shoved out from behind by No. 7 maegashira Toki (1-1) for the eighth-rank wrestler's second straight loss.