SCORE BULLETINS

Arizona Ridge Riders and Nashville Stampede Register First Tie in PBR Team Series History on Final Day of Competition in Oklahoma City

Arizona Ridge Riders: 177.25

Nashville Stampede: 177.25

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – In a league first, the Arizona Ridge Riders and the Nashville Stampede tied, with both teams registering 177.25 aggregate points on the final day of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition in Oklahoma City. As the game got underway, both the Ridge Riders’ Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) and the Stampede’s Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) faced a familiar opponent. For Souza, he was eager to reverse his fortunes atop Kid Knapper (Phillips/Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls), the very bull that bested him earlier this season in Austin, Texas, in a heartbreaking 7.75 seconds when Arizona played Kansas City. Souza, however, failed to convert, bucked off again by Kid Knapper, this time in 1.99 seconds. In the bottom of the first, 2018 PBR World Champion Pacheco was locked in a rubber match with Wicked Dreams (TNT Bucking Bulls). After he bucked off the bull in a close 7.37 seconds during the 2019 premier series event in Little Rock, Arkansas, he covered Wicked Dreams in their most recent meeting, scored 89 points during Round 6 of the 2022 PBR World Finals. Appearing centered as the chute gate burst open inside Paycom Center, the bull made a direction change near the end of the trip, upending Pacheco, who was called for a slap at 7.53 seconds. Believing the bull’s stumble caused the slap, Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride challenged the call. Upon review, the original ruling stood, with the out remaining a no score and leaving Nashville without a challenge for the remainder of the game. In the top of the second, the Ridge Riders’ Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) was tasked with the unridden Fajita (Nothin’ But Try Ranch/’Diggers Bucking Bulls). Snapping the animal athlete’s four-out buckoff streak, Aparecido reached the requisite 8 to give his team an early 87-point lead. Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil) was next out for the Stampede, but was no match for Happy Gambler (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin), sent to the ground in 5.6 seconds. The Ridge Riders remained red hot in the third as Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) logged his career-first 90-point ride and Arizona’s third of the season when he dominated Canadian-born Norse God (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for a monstrous 90.25 points. Courtesy of Losnake’s ride and a Stampede buckoff in the bottom of the frame, the Ridge Riders began the fourth with a 177.25-point lead.

With just two attempts remaining for each team, Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) had the chance to clinch the win early for Arizona by putting the team three bulls ahead should he reach the whistle. Eguchi readied to attempt Tested’s Viper (Hookin’ W/LeFlore Bucking Bulls), the very bull he rode Saturday evening for a commanding 91.5 points during the Ridge Riders’ victory against the Missouri Thunder. The 2018 PBR World Finals event winner was unable to repeat his success from the evening prior, bucked off in 2.75 seconds. With a renewed shot at victory, Nashville needed to convert in their final two trips to remain in the hunt for the win. In the bottom of the fourth, 12-time PBR World Finals qualifier Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) rose to the occasion in front of his home-state crowd. Dirteater covered Leopold (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin) for a crucial 89.25 points to inch the Stampede within 88 points of the lead. In the top of the fifth, Arizona readied for the team’s second potentially game-winning out as first-round draft pick Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) climbed aboard Schott In The Dark (Broken Arrow S Ranch/Sutton Ranch). Castro was bested by the powerful bull, slung to the ground in 2.83 seconds, opening the door for Nashville to win the game in walk-off fashion. As the last man out, Stampede closer and three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) climbed atop Gangster Time (Classic Jack Cattle/Viducic Bucking Bulls). Remaining in perfect time with Gangster Time, Alves delivered a qualified ride as the crowd and his team erupted in celebration. Needing a score of 88.25 points or more for a Stampede victory, Alves was awarded 88 points, resulting in the first PBR Team Series tie, 177.25-177.25, in league history. Following the game, the Ridge Riders and Stampede both concluded PBR Freedom Fest with a 1-1-1 record. Thus far in 2022, the Ridge Riders are now 11-7-1, while the Stampede are 5-13-1.

Missouri Thunder Edge Kansas City Outlaws by One Ride Score on Final Day of PBR Team Series Competition in Oklahoma City

Missouri Thunder: 164.25

Kansas City Outlaws: 89.25

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – During the final round of games for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series’ Freedom Fest inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, the Missouri Thunder narrowly beat the Kansas City Outlaws by one ride score, 164.25-89.25. The game began with a bang, as both teams converted in the first. Riding in the top of the frame, the Missouri Thunder’s Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil) remained perfect against Hang Em High (Bryan T. Smith/Nathan Doss). After covering the bull for 89.75 points during Round 7 of the 2022 PBR World Finals, Salgado covered the bull for 87.75 points Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City to give Missouri an early lead. Kansas City was quick to answer. Riding in the leadoff position for the Outlaws, first-round draft pick Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) dominated American Gangster (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for a game-best 89.25 points. As the second got underway, the Outlaws led by a slim 1.5 points. Following a scoreless second and third, both teams were eager to reclaim their early momentum in the fourth. Righting the ship, the Thunder’s Marcelo Procopio Pereira (Rinopolis, Brazil) delivered the go-ahead score for Missouri, covering Duke (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin) for 76.5 points. With the Thunder now out front by 75 points, second-round draft pick Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah) hoped to restore Kansas City’s lead as he readied to attempt On Da Juice (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls). However, he was whipped to the ground in 3.59 seconds, setting up a potentially game-winning out for Missouri in the top of the fifth. Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) was unable to seize the moment for the Thunder, brought down by Pickle Moonshine (Shuler Bucking Bulls) in 2.41 seconds. With the chance to win the game in walk-off fashion, Bill Henry (Manila, Utah) prepared to make his PBR Team Series debut as the Outlaws’ closer. Erupting from the chutes aboard Express Lane (Classic Jack Cattle/Viducic Bucking Bulls), Henry was tossed in a quick 3.93 seconds, leading the Thunder to win by 75 points, 164.25-89.25. The Missouri Thunder concluded PBR Freedom Fest with a 2-1 record and are now 10-9 this season. The Kansas City Outlaws left the Oklahoma City Team Series event winless, 0-3, and slipped to 7-12 in 2022 competition.

Texas Rattlers Defeat Lone Star State Rival Austin Gamblers by a Mere One Point in Final Game of PBR Team Series Competition in Oklahoma City

Texas Rattlers: 257

Austin Gamblers: 256

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an all-Lone Star State Showdown Sunday afternoon, the Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, narrowly beat the Austin Gamblers by one point, 257-256, as each team went 3-for-5, covering 60% of their draws during the final day of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition in Oklahoma City. The game was electric from the moment the first chute gate opened as both the Rattlers and Gamblers converted in the opening frame. After the Rattlers’ leadoff rider Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) rode Monkey Blues (M Rafter E/Rockin’ L Bucking Bulls) for 81.75 points and the Gamblers’ Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) conquered Uhertx.com’s Lil’ Scrappy (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) for 84 points, Austin began the second with a slim 2.25-point lead. The scoreboard then went unchanged through both the second and third before both teams regained their momentum in the fourth. Riding for the Rattlers in the top of the penultimate round of outs was 47-year-old sensation and 2002 PBR World Champion Ednei Caminhas (Indaiatuba, Brail). Matching Game Over (Cooper/Scrugs/Bishop) jump-for-jump, Caminhas was scored 86.75 points to put the Rattlers back out front by 84.5 points. The Thunder, however, were quick to answer. In the bottom of the frame, Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) rode Malaki (Jenkins Cattle Co./CIL Cattle) for 82.5 points to lessen the Rattlers’ lead to 2 points. The Rattlers remained electric in the top of the fifth. Matched up with Best In Show (Glover Cattle/D&H Cattle Co.), Texas’ closer Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) reached the whistle for a crucial 88.5 points. Via the score, the Gamblers needed 90.75 points or more to clinch the win. Out last for Austin was the team’s newest member, Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil), slated to attempt a familiar opponent in Razzmatazz (M Rafter E/High View Cattle). Having met once prior, Lima was bested by the bull in a hard-fought 6.81 seconds earlier this season during the premier series event in Kansas City, Missouri. While Lima reversed his fortunes, delivering a qualified ride, he was awarded just 89.5 points, 1.25 points short of earning the game win. When the dust settled, the Texas Rattlers proved the supreme Texas bull riding team, improving to 2-1 at PBR Freedom Fest with their 257-256 defeat of the Austin Gamblers, who concluded the PBR Team Series event 0-3. Thus far in 2022, the Texas Rattlers are now 7-12, while the Gamblers backslid to 10-9.  

Derek Kolbaba Completes Clean Sweep of Walk-Off, Game-Winning Scores to Propel Oklahoma Freedom to Victory Against Carolina Cowboys, Clinching PBR Freedom Fest Event Win

Oklahoma Freedom: 180.5

Carolina Cowboys: 176.5

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the third consecutive day of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Freedom closer Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) delivered a walk-off score to propel his team to victory. On Sunday afternoon, Kolbaba clinched the 180.5-176.5 victory for the Freedom against the Carolina Cowboys. The victory improved Oklahoma to 3-0 inside Paycom Center and secured the team the PBR Freedom Fest event win as they became the first team to win their inaugural homestand. The Oklahoma Freedom have now won seven consecutive games, one away from tying the Austin Gamblers’ league-leading eight straight victories earned earlier this season.

After neither team converted in the first, the Freedom were the first to put points on the board in the second. While Carolina bucked off in the top of the frame, Freedom young gun Briggs Madsen (Tremonton, Utah) was a picture of near perfection in the bottom of the second. Matched with Smooth Over It (Lazy S4 Cattle/Shuler/Samford), Madsen reached the requisite 8 for a monstrous 91.25 points, the Freedom’s league-leading fifth 90-point ride of the season. The Cowboys didn’t remain scoreless for long. As the third got underway, Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) was tasked with a familiar opponent in Casper (Crescent City Bucking Bulls/Lari Crane/Gene Owen) by Head Coach Jerome Davis. Having attempted the bull three times prior, Taylor was successful twice, including for a commanding 90.75 points in their first meeting en route to Taylor’s premier series event win in Indianapolis in January 2022. While Taylor was sent airborne inside Paycom Center before the 8, he clutched the end of the bull rope in hopes of securing a score. After an official review, Taylor was deemed to have had the rope in his hand as the clock hit 8 seconds and was awarded an 86.75-point score. The Freedom bucked off in the bottom of the frame, but Madsen’s score allowed them to carry a 4.5-point lead into the fourth. With the scoreboard unchanged in the penultimate frame, the game came down to the final round, with 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) up for the Cowboys and Kolbaba once again last out for the Freedom. Needing to score, Swearingen delivered for the Cowboys, giving them an 85.25-point lead after riding Theodore (Lari Crane/Gene Owen) for 89.75 points. No stranger to the must-ride position, Kolbaba was poised as he climbed aboard Lone Survivor (Whitman Bucking Bulls/Jenkins Cattle Co.). In perfect time with his animal athlete counterpart, Kolbaba reached the whistle as the Sooner State crowd erupted in raucous cheer. Scored 89.25 points, the Freedom surged to a 4-point lead to win the game. With the Cowboys and Freedom the lone two teams to go 2-0 through the opening games, the Freedom’s win earned them the title of PBR Freedom Fest Champions. The Oklahoma Freedom are now 11-8 this season, while the Carolina Cowboys, who went 2-1 in Oklahoma City, slipped to 12-7.