Nice to see Mitakeumi read on Oshoumi's final charge coming in while he was against the bales and sidestep to let Osho run his way out.

Gonoyama with the big driving relentless tachiai, just blowing Kotoeiho off the ring.

I thought Tamawashi had it but Asanoyama was able to shuffle left just enough against the straw to work the space needed to pivot for the underarm throw.

Long stalemate with Ichiyamamoto and Hakunofuji. Broken finally by Haku looking for an inside leg trip and Ichi countering it to drive Haku against the bales, but Haku recovers and turns Ichi's final drive into an overarm throw.

Strong tachiai from both Wakataka and Yoshinofuji. Looks like a bit of a slap fight was developing from that but Yoshi's foot went out from under him.

Fujinokawa with a big right hand slap off the tachiai that Atamifuji partially dodged by taking it on his shoulder. Atami tries for a throw but Fuji stays upright as he gets driven back toward the edge, where Atami again works the head. Fuji still stays upright under the big man's weight and uses the opportunity to shift the momentum to force Atami out.

Hiradoumi forces WMH to the straw but the latter uses his left hand to support his right overarm grip and pivots for an utchari that sends them both out of the ring.

Daieisho tries to follow up one big shove with another that Kirishima reads and shucks by to pick up his kachikoshi with a tsukiotoshi.

Aonishiki didn't get much but a fistful of tassels off the tachiai, but he ended up lower than Takayasu who couldn't manage to recover his position as Aoni drove him out.

Looks like Hoshoryu circled a bit to the side after the intinal tachiai, and Takanosho seemed to be making a bit of headway with the throat attacks, but the yokozuna found his footing and blasted Taka out.

We've got Gonoyama, Kotoshoho, and Kirishima leading 8-1, with Hoshoryu and Takanosho trailing 7-2.

Takayasu tried to "Oho" Aonishiki by holding his shoulders up, but didn't get in position quickly enough. Maybe if he'd oshi'ed him for a while beforehand to create an opening, instead of going straight for the shoulder-lock from the tachi-ai?

I'd love to see a different camera angle of what happened with Ichiyamamoto's left arm, just before Hakunofuji spun him and dropped him.

Takayasu tried to “Oho” Aonishiki by holding his shoulders up, but didn’t get in position quickly enough.

Was that his plan? It's a little hard to figure out. Best as I can tell, Aonishiki's right arm was squeezing Takayasu's left hand, and Aonishiki's left hand was going for the grip (but being blocked by Takayasu's right arm.) So yeah, I guess you're right, looks like Takayasu was trying to get a tight grip thru Aonishiki's underarms but Aonishiki blocked him. Then Takayasu say f this and backed up to start over with some tsuppari slaps but Aonishiki deftly navigated that asteroid belt while pushing Takayasu back. Takayasu knew when to fold 'em and tapped out.

Aonishiki really needed this win, and it seems like he's been doing some thinkin on how to counter the counters. I hope he continues to do so!

Fujinokawa with a big right hand slap off the tachiai that Atamifuji partially dodged by taking it on his shoulder.

My guess is that Fujinokawa was going to henka, Atamifuji correctly guessed that so didn't commit to a big tachiai and just stood up, so Fujinokawa turned his henka into a slap.

an utchari that sends them both out of the ring.

Those always look so cool!

Daieisho tries to follow up one big shove with another that Kirishima reads and shucks by to pick up his kachikoshi with a tsukiotoshi.

This is not what it looks like:

(Kirishima was just regaining his balance!)

It's so cool and fun to watch these counters appearing, and seeing him figure out how to block them so quickly.

I'm sure they're all watching closely to see which strats work, and which he can block. I predict Hoshoryu will try Takanosho's perfectly timed and fully commited slap-down.