TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Hoshoryu suffered a potentially fatal blow to his yokozuna promotion bid Monday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, dropping three wins off the pace with a second consecutive loss, courtesy of rank-and-file opponent Hiradoumi.

Fellow ozeki Kotozakura was also beaten in an upset by rank-and-file grappler Ura on Day 9 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, where No. 14 maegashira Kinbozan remained undefeated with the outright lead.

Hoshoryu (6-3), aiming to become sumo's next grand champion following the mid-tournament retirement of Terunofuji, was caught off guard at the jump as No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-4) moved to the left and executed a thrust down.

"I wanted to throw everything I had at him," said Hiradoumi, who had been 0-6 against Hoshoryu in the top division. "The only thing on my mind was staying focused and calm."

Hoshoryu was upset a day earlier by No. 4 maegashira Shodai (4-5). The nephew of Mongolian former yokozuna Asashoryu needs a championship-caliber performance at the ongoing 15-day meet after earning a shot at promotion with his 13-2 runner-up finish at November's Kyushu tourney.

November champion Kotozakura continued his disappointing tournament by dropping to 3-6 after giving up the inside position at the opening and getting pushed down by No. 4 maegashira Ura (5-4).

Onosato (6-3) maintained a measure of pride for the ozeki rank by stopping a strong charge from sekiwake Daieisho (6-3) and slapping him to the clay.

Kinbozan, the first top-division wrestler from Kazakhstan, kept a spotless record at 9-0 with an impressive victory by armlock throw against No. 11 maegashira Takerufuji (7-2), winner of the March 2024 tournament.

Mongolian-born No. 5 maegashira Chiyoshoma secured a winning record for the tournament and remained one win off the pace at 8-1 with an arm bar throw against ninth-ranked maegashira Churanoumi (3-6).