At the recent Japan Martial Arts Expo, renowned kickboxer Kido Yasuhiro found himself on the losing end of a hybrid rules match against former sumo wrestler Terutsuyoshi. The bout, known as a “ganryujima” contest, took place on a raised platform and could be won by knockout, submission, or ring out.
Kido, a former K-1 tournament winner with a reputation for devastating knockouts, entered the match as the clear favorite. However, the 5’5″ Terutsuyoshi, who retired from professional sumo earlier this year, had other plans.
The unique ruleset proved to be Kido’s undoing. Despite his striking prowess, he was unable to land a decisive blow on his smaller opponent. Instead, Terutsuyoshi utilized his sumo background to great effect, pushing Kido off the platform three times to secure victory.
Footage of the match quickly circulated on social media, showing a visibly frustrated Kido protesting each ring out. The kickboxer’s decision to engage near the edge of the platform against an opponent whose primary strategy was to push him out proved to be a critical error.
This upset marks a stark contrast to Kido’s previous outing in May, where he showcased his striking skills with a spectacular head kick knockout against Li Long, an opponent known for his supposedly iron chin.
For Terutsuyoshi, this victory marks a successful debut in his post-sumo career. During his time in professional sumo, he amassed a record of 425-422 and reached the impressive rank of maegashira 3 in the top division. Standing at just 5’5″ and weighing 245 pounds, Terutsuyoshi was known for his ability to compete against much larger opponents using evasion and grappling techniques.
The 29-year-old Terutsuyoshi has expressed interest in transitioning to mixed martial arts, following in the footsteps of other former sumo wrestlers who have made similar moves. While his future in MMA remains uncertain, this victory over a decorated kickboxer certainly raises eyebrows and suggests that Terutsuyoshi’s combat sports journey may be far from over.
