Welcome back to Budapest for Day 7 of the 2018 UWW Senior World Championships! Women's freestyle wrapped up yesterday so it's all Greco-Roman from here on out. Dalton Roberts, Ellis Coleman and Pat Martinez all get their first crack at the tournament at 60, 67 and 87 kg respectively. 

60 Kilograms

Dalton Roberts vs Etienne Kinsinger

Roberts is the first American to wrestle on this lovely Friday in the Papp Laszlo Arena. He draws Germany in the round of 32. There are 31 competitors in this bracket, so only Cuba, the number one seed, received a bye this round. Two takedowns and a gut wrench from Kinsinger puts Roberts in a deep 6-0 hole after one period. Tech falls in Greco happen at 8 point disparities. Roberts grinding in the second period but can't get through Kinsinger's defenses. Kinsinger drives Roberts out of bounds and into the sponsor boards, making it 7-0. Kinsinger finishes with authority, pancaking Roberts for four with a little over a minute left on the board. The sizable German contingent cheer. Americans will now have to root for Kinsinger to make the finals to get pulled into the wrestle backs. 

Kinsinger falls to Moldova 8-1 in the next round and Roberts tournament is over. 

87 Kilograms

Pat Martinez vs Viktor Lorincz

Pat will have to also contend with the rowdy local fans, as Lorincz is a native Hungarian. He's also a 2018 European champ and a 2013 world bronze medalist, so Pat will have his hands full. Pat gets put in forced par terre first so Viktor gets on the board and has a 1-0 lead. Pat can't stop the gut wrenches and gets turned twice to fall into a 5-0 hole. The period ends still 5-0. After a minute of no scores Viktor gets put in par terre and Pat picks up a point. Pat can't get anything going on top so they come back up to their feet with about 90 seconds left in the match, Hungary leading 5-1. Time runs out for Pat and the Hungarian flags all start waving. Martinez falls 5-1 but there is a solid chance Viktor Lorincz makes the finals and pulled into the repechage. 

To the dismay of American and Hungarian fans, Lorincz loses a close 3-3 match on criteria to Georiga. Pat run in Budapest is over. 

67 Kilograms

Ellis Coleman vs Edgaras Venckaitis

The artist formerly known as the flying squirrel is the last American to step on the mat today. He draws Lithuania. Coleman and Edgaras Venckaitis (EV) have history with each other.

Coleman dropped a decision to Venckaitis several years ago in the US. And then in 2017, Coleman defeated Venckaitis at Thor Masters, but the Lithuanian torqued Coleman's arm causing an injury. Coleman was 4-0 on the day and was forced to withdraw. #paybacktime

— 5PointMove (@5PtMove) October 26, 2018

No scores after a minute and Coleman is put in par terre first. EV picks up the first point in the match. On the mat, EV slaps in a reverse body lock and takes Coleman head over heels for four. He takes a 5-0 leads. Coleman battling back. EV has double unders and is looking for a lat drop, but he falters. Coleman has Venckaitis on his back! And there's the fall! Team USA picks up their first Greco win in dramatic fashion! Or do they? Lithuania challenges. Perhaps a leg foul? It's unclear what they are looking for. Regardless, challenge lost! Coleman on to the round of 16. 

Ellis's opponent will be Artem Surkov of Russia. Surkov is a two-time world bronze medalist and a 2018 European champion, so getting to the quarters is going to be difficult. 

Ellis Coleman vs Artem Surkov

Coleman steps on the mat to face his Russian foe. 15 seconds in and we have a stoppage to clean up blood. Not sure if Ellis is bleeding but the mat is getting mopped up. A minute in and no scores but another stoppage for blood. Can't tell what part of Coleman os bleeding but regardless we're back in action. Surkov gets put down first so Coleman picks up a point and will work from par terre. No scores and we come back up to our feet with 42 seconds left in the first period. Also more stoppage for blood cleanup. I can't see any of it from my vantage but the cleanup crew is on their hustle. Good for the cleanup crew. The period ends with Ellis holding on to a slim 1-0 lead. 

Nothing but hand fighting in the first 49 seconds of the second period and another blood stoppage. I think it's something on Coleman's mouth. Back in action. Now Coleman will be placed in the par terre position and Surkov will gain a point and criteria advantage. That must be an unpleasant wound on Coleman's mouth because we have blood cleanup once again. In par terre, Surkov is just barely able to get a gut wrench, making it 3-1. Coleman has to go to work in neutral with time ticking away. He can't get anything going and falls 3-1 to Surkov of Russia. 

Ellis needs Surkov to win his next two matches to make the finals and be pulled into the repechage. Surkov beats Mammadov of Azerbaijan in the quarterfinals so bronze medal hopes are still alive for Coleman. Surkov will have Shermakhanbet of Kazakhstan in the semis.

Surkov makes the finals so Ellis is back in the repechage and will wrestle tomorrow with the possibility of a bronze medal!

As we wait for the semifinals and that result, don't forget that tomorrow we will see the final three Americans wrestle their first match in Budapest. Kamal Bey, G'Angelo Hancock and Adam Coon get their crack at the World Championships.