PUEBLO, Colo. – Climbing the mountain of success can be very entertaining, but between hikes, it’s good to reflect on each journey, or attempt, of making it to the top. Whether a rider considers each weekend, cumulative season or 365 days as the referenced journey, it doesn’t change much.

It definitely doesn’t change the goal of winning a World Championship.

While Marcelo Procopio Pereira hasn’t captured an ever-elusive gold buckle just yet, that doesn’t stop him from being able to watch tape, regroup mentally and ultimately, reflect on how he’s gotten to competing on the world’s largest bull riding stage.

Whether that’s reflecting on last weekend’s 0-for-2 performance in Eugene, Oregon, reliving his summer spent with the Missouri Thunder, thinking back on his career-first Unleash The Beast event title or even reminiscing to the days of his youth, when he’d watch some of the original PBR legends punch the clock, there’s a lowest-common denominator or two in the humble Brazilian’s approach: growth and appreciation.

Legends, and memories, come in all shapes and sizes, but if the 27-year-old had to pinpoint where his journey began, he looked to the past, and really, right to the record books. But it wasn’t necessarily the three-time World Champion’s riding resume that spoke loudest for Pereira.

“I loved watching anyone ride Bushwacker, but Adriano Moraes really stands out to me,” Pereira reflected.

“There have been a lot of great bull riders, but I think watching Adriano Moraes has been my favorite because he was one of the first guys to come to America and he’s helped open doors for all Brazilian riders. He came to America without translation devices, without GPS or anything, and is a big reason all of us Brazilians come now each year.”

He later described his favorite moment on tour, during his rookie year, when he looked around the locker room and realized that not only was he part of the next wave of young Brazilian talent, but that he was in the presence of some legends who helped pave the way.

“I look to the right and see J.B. Mauney, I look to the left and see Kaique Pacheco, Silvano Alves, a lot of bull riders I’ve seen watching from Brazil, and then me, and I think to myself ‘I don’t believe it,’” he laughed.

“I think I was so nervous that J.B. pulled my rope. I bucked off the bull because I was so nervous that he pulled my rope, not because I was riding in the PBR!”

Now settled into the bright lights, he credited his summer spent with the PBR Team Series’ Missouri Thunder as Pereira continues to soak up some additional bull riding wisdom and overall confidence.

“I’m very excited this year. I’ve been riding good this year and feeling very confident,” he shared.

“I learned a lot from Ross Coleman and Luke Snyder, they work well together. I was able to learn a lot, every day, because the team worked together. Each day I learned more and more, and it was a lot of help for me because everybody worked together. I learn a lot when it’s the same family and I really loved my first year. I think every year it will become a bigger deal.”

As for this season’s Unleash The Beast efforts, Pereira currently ranks No. 21 heading into a Saturday night matchup against Skeeter Peeter this weekend in Los Angeles. Having bested the bovine in the pair’s first two showdowns (earlier this year, for 86.25 points in Manchester, New Hampshire, and first in 2021, for 85 points in Big Sky, Montana), the talented cowboy will look to begin his weekend with an electric effort.

As the race to be crowned 2023 World Champion continues to heat up, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup during this weekend’s SoCal Showdown in Los Angeles.  

WHO’S IN FOR L.A. Jose Vitor Leme Andrew Alvidrez Kaique Pacheco Cooper Davis Rafael Jose de Brito Daniel Keeping Dalton Kasel Luciano De Castro Jesse Petri Boudreaux Campbell Keyshawn Whitehorse Silvano Alves Wingson Henrique da Silva Raael Henrique dos Santos Tate Pollmeier Marcelo Procopio Pereira Casey Roberts Koltin Hevalow Joao Ricardo Vieira Manoelito de Souza Junior Dener Barbosa Braidy Randolph Kyler Oliver Jess Lockwood Sandro Batista Ramon de Lima Ezekiel Mitchell Chase Outlaw Austin Richardson Wyatt Rogers Aaron Williams Cody Jesus Clayton Sellars Griffin Smeltzer Mason Moody Flavio Zivieri Elizmar Jeremias Mauricio Moreira

OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER Eduardo Aparecido Mason Taylor Eli Vastbinder Brady Oleson Derek Kolbaba Bob Mitchell Colten Fritzlan Thiago Salgado Chase Wimer Marcus Mast

FAMILIAR FACES

This weekend’s field of riders will feature a few familiar faces who are set to return to the lineup or make their 2023 Unleash The Beast debut after getting some reps on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour or missing time due to injury, including Texas Rattlers standout Cody Jesus, Mason Moody, Elizmar Jeremias and Griffin Smeltzer.

Jesus participated in two events earlier this season, but hasn’t attempted a ride since Dec. 18 at the Manchester Invitational, 67 days ago, after getting banged up, and is set to square off against Empty Glass in Saturday’s Round 1. After originally being selected by the Carolina Cowboys in last year’s PBR Team Series Draft, presented by ZipRecruiter, he was traded later that day to the Texas Rattlers, where he went 12-for-29 throughout the season. Fellow youngster, a 19-year-old Moody, who was part of the Team Series’ inaugural champion Nashville Stampede, will make his 2023 Unleash The Beast debut, having logged one appearance on the premier series last year in Billings, Montana. After winning the past two Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events, Moody enters this weekend’s matchup against Game Over after last besting Doze You Down last weekend for 91 points.

In his first year competing with the PBR, he’s begun his career with an impressive 6-for-11 effort, including a campaign-best 87-point effort Jan. 28 atop Switch. In four Touring Pro Division appearances to begin the 2023 slate, he’s managed three Top 6 finishes, with his best placement coming via a runner-up effort at the Rainsville Bull Bash Jan. 27 in Rainsville, Alabama. After finishing fourth last weekend at the PWVT’s Cedar Park Chute Out, he’s set to make his Unleash the Beast debut Saturday paired against Hog Wild.

Smeltzer has logged some quality outs spending time at a mix of PWVT, TPD and PBR Canada events in the past few years and is coming off a big win at the Cedar Park Chute Out last weekend. He'll challenge Mikey’s Surprise halfway through the long round Saturday night.

LEME HOLDS 115.5 POINT LEAD HEADING INTO LOS ANGELES

While two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme currently holds a 115.5-point lead over No. 2 Andrew Alvidrez, it was Alvidrez who turned in a fourth-place finish last weekend in Eugene, Oregon, courtesy of his 2-for-3 showcase. First besting Cold Chill for an opening-round 88.75 points, Alvidrez punched his ticket to the short round via an epic effort atop Big Twist for 90.25 points, but was unable to hang on for 8 atop Alakazam in the short round. Regardless, the Top 5 finish garnered the talented rider 68 Unleash The Beast points, helping him close the gap on Leme, who earned just 16.5 Unleash The Beast points for his 88.25-point ride aboard Chiseled. Tying for 12th place, alongside Chase Outlaw, the finish represents Leme’s lowest of the year, as the veteran will look to rebound Saturday night during a Round 1 matchup with Sock Monkey, while Alvidrez will square off with I’m No Angel.

ROUND 1 REMATCHES

Braidy Randolph vs. Big Pokey (7.33 seconds at PBR Gwinnet Chute Out in Duluth, Georgia) Dalton Kasel vs. WSM’s Time In A Bottle (91.25 points at Ridge Rider Days in Glendale, Arizona) Manoelito de Souza Junior vs. War Daddy (3.13 seconds at PBR Bad Boy Mowers Mowdown in Little Rock, Arkansas) Marcelo Procopio Pereira vs. Skeeter Peter (86.25 points at PBR Manchester Invitational in Manchester, New Hampshire and 85 points at Big Sky PBR in Big Sky, Montana) Rafael Henrique dos Santos vs. Lil 2 Train (6.05 seconds at PBR Ariat Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires in Nashville, Tennessee) Ramon de Lima vs. WSM’s Sun Country (2.16 seconds at PBR Ariat Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires in Billings, Montana)

FOLLOW ALONG

As this weekend’s event in Los Angeles quickly approaches, the action is set to begin Saturday, Feb. 25 at 6:45 p.m. PST featuring Round 1 on RidePass on Pluto TV, with the second round and championship go slated to begin Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1:45 p.m. PST. This weekend’s championship round will debut on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. PST.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as the world’s best bull riders get set to compete at the PBR SoCal Showdown inside Crypto.com Arena Feb. 25-26.

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media