Milwaukee under siege as PBR Unleashes the Beast stop No. 5
True to his “Mr. 90 Points” nickname, Dalton Kasel makes a case for a championship run.
By James Phillips | COO & Co-Founder, Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation
For one weekend, Wisconsin was known for something far more unforgiving than cheese or cold weather.
This past weekend in Milwaukee, the spotlight belonged to the toughest athletes on earth — the cowboys of the PBR, their on-the-dirt protection team, and their bovine dance partners — as Stop No. 5 of the 2026 PBR Unleash the Beast thundered into town for the Busch Light PBR Milwaukee, presented by Cooper Tires.
This was not a marathon weekend. This was a sprint.
With a condensed two-night format and fewer opportunities to recover from mistakes, every out carried added weight. Every qualified ride mattered. And every misstep lingered longer than usual. Milwaukee felt it from the first whistle.
As the opening performance approached, anticipation filled the arena. Friday night would set the tone.
Friday Night — Jan. 16
Round 1
With 18 qualified rides recorded, Round 1 on Friday night was highly competitive, rewarding composure and punishing indecision. As fans settled in at the arena and others watched from home on Paramount+ — the official home of the PBR Unleash The Beast season — the questions were familiar.
Could the sport’s elite rediscover their rhythm? Would recent momentum continue? And with the standings already tightening, would the leaderboard look different by Championship Saturday?
When the call finally echoed through the building — it was time to unleash the beast — Milwaukee was ready.
Top Three Takeaways — Friday Night
No. 3 — Bullfighters answered the call
Friday night offered a reminder of a truth often overlooked: professional bull riding does not exist without bullfighters willing to absorb punishment so others can escape it.
Austin Ashley, Lucas Teodoro, and reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year Cody Webster anchored the arena with discipline, timing, and fearlessness.
Ashley, in particular, was run over and took a violent shot to the face — the kind that would sideline most athletes in any other sport. He stood up, wiped the blood off his face, and immediately returned to position.
Bullfighters deliberately place themselves in harm’s way to create a split-second window for fallen riders to get clear — and they deliver every night.
No. 2 — José Vitor Leme finds his footing
His numbers entering Milwaukee were stark.
Three-time PBR World Champion José Vitor Leme opened the season 0-for-5 — a start that felt unthinkable given his dominance and 2025 world title.
Friday night offered opportunity.
Matched with Body Bag, Leme delivered an 88.45-point ride, finishing third in the round and putting his first meaningful world points of the season on the board. More than the score, the composure returned. The timing was clean. The control unmistakable.
No. 1 — Hudson Bolton set the pace
Friday night belonged to Hudson Bolton.
The reigning 2025 PBR Rookie of the Year capped Round 1 with authority, winning the round outright with an 89.50-point ride aboard Ghostship Warrior — the highest score of the night.
Bolton rode with patience beyond his years, matching intensity with control and never appearing rushed by the moment.
Top 12 heading into Championship Saturday
Hudson Bolton — 89.50
Marco Rizzo — 88.60
José Vitor Leme — 88.45
Kade Madsen — 88.10
Keyshawn Whitehorse — 88.05
Julio Cesar Marques — 87.90
Koltin Hevalow — 87.70
John Crimber — 87.60
Daylon Swearingen — 87.20
Dalton Kasel — 86.90
Alex Cerqueira — 86.85
Mauricio Gulla Moreira — 86.55
Monster Energy Team Challenge
The Monster Energy Team Challenge served as a preseason-style showcase ahead of the upcoming PBR Camping World Team Series.
Several riders needed qualified rides to advance: Kade Madsen, Alison dos Santos, Eric Novoa, Guilherme Valleiras and JaCauy Hale.
When the dust settled, only two delivered — Madsen and dos Santos.
Championship Saturday — Jan. 17
With only 12 spots available in the Championship Round, the math was unforgiving. One great ride could be enough. Others needed two.
As the arena filled once more and fans tuned in on Paramount+, the stakes were unmistakable.
Top Three Takeaways — Championship Night
No. 3 — Jess Lockwood hits a milestone
Some rides are bigger than the score.
Jess Lockwood’s 89.35-point ride aboard Project X marked his 50th career round win on the elite tour — a textbook performance of balance, patience, and control.
No. 2 — A short round that demanded perfection
The bulls owned the Championship Round — until the final three outs.
Dalton Kasel led the charge with 92.55 points aboard Lights Out.
Koltin Hevalow answered with 90.15 on UTZ BesTex Smokestack.
Alex Cerqueira followed with 89.05 on Bex Red Eye.
In one of the weekend’s most unforgettable moments, Alison dos Santos dislocated his shoulder after being bucked off Flapjack — then reset it himself in the bucking chute and continued.
No. 1 — Dalton Kasel takes control
With three qualified rides, including his 43rd career 90-point ride, Dalton Kasel captured his second event win of the season and his 13th career victory.
The performance pulled him within two points of world No. 1 Julio Cesar Marques, tightening the title race as the tour heads to Tampa.
Top Three Aggregate — Milwaukee
Dalton Kasel — 264.75
Koltin Hevalow — 263.65
Alex Cerqueira — 261.00
Full event results
Didn’t see your favorite rider or bull? Complete results from Stop No. 5 are available HERE.
World standings after five events
With five events complete, the title picture is razor thin as the tour heads south, check out the world standings HERE.
Beyond the Dirt
Some of the most meaningful stories in professional bull riding happen beyond the chutes.
The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation provides Action Trackchairs to civilians in Oklahoma and Arkansas who cannot afford them — restoring independence to children and adults with mobility challenges so they can return to the outdoors and the life they love.
