FUKUOKA (Kyodo) -- September champion Onosato suffered his first loss as an ozeki Wednesday against former sekiwake Abi on the fourth day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

Abi got the better of their initial collision, rocking the powerful 24-year-old backward. Onosato recovered briefly, but his left foot slipped on the sandy surface as he went on the attack, and Abi (3-1), now a No. 3 maegashira, floored him with a beltless arm throw.

"I knew that if I didn't take him head-on, I had no chance to win," Abi said of his powerful opening after winning for the third straight day. "At the end, I was able to react really well."

Ozeki Hoshoryu, who suffered a shock defeat to the unpredictable Ura in September, did not let lightning strike twice and improved to 4-0 at the 15-day meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

The ozeki seized control with a quick and overpowering opening charge, never gave the crafty No. 2 maegashira Ura (1-3) any room to maneuver and finished him with an overarm throw.

Hoshoryu is tied for the lead with three rank-and-file maegashira wrestlers -- Atamifuji, Takanosho and Onokatsu.

Takanosho improved to 4-0 with a victory over winless fellow No. 6 maegashira Nishikigi. No. 3 Atamifuji outlasted tricky No. 5 Tobizaru (2-2), while No. 15 Onokatsu defeated No. 13 Shonannoumi (2-2).

Ozeki Kotozakura (3-1) bounced back from a loss on Tuesday, barring the arms of Wakatakakage and forcing the No. 2 maegashira over the straw bales to his first defeat.

Two-time champion sekiwake Kirishima paid the price for a lack of quickness as the former ozeki was forced out by komusubi Wakamotoharu (3-1) to his fourth defeat.