It wasn't pretty, but yokozuna Takanohana did enough to muscle out maegashira top gun Miyabiyama on Wednesday and chalk up his third win in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
Takanohana's sheer determination to prove that he is still No. 1 after missing the last seven tournaments through injury shone through as he huffed and puffed before shunting Miyabiyama (2-2) over ring's edge in the day's finale at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Grand champion Musashimaru also flexed his muscles to move to 3-1 but the yokozuna duo continue to chase Asashoryu who labored to a fourth win to share the early lead with rank-and-filer Wakanoyama.