For the 19th time, PBR’s Unleash The Beast invaded the Big Apple and took over the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, for three days of elite competition and mad fun. Stop No. 4 of the 2026 season delivered exactly what this sport was built on – the world’s best bull riders matched against the world’s top bucking bulls, under the brightest lights in sports.
From opening the New York Stock Exchange on Friday morning to the chute gates clanking open that night, the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden once again proved why this event remains one of the most electric and pressure-packed stops.
This past weekend also marked the first three-day event of the season with an extra round, extra world points, and an added layer of urgency for every rider chasing position in the standings and momentum toward May’s championship push in Fort Worth.
Friday, January 9, 2026
Opening Night — Buck Off at the Garden
Friday night opened with what was, by any early-season measure, the most competitive and championship-caliber pen of long-round bulls assembled so far in 2026. The numbers told the story: 14 qualified rides were recorded in Round 1, a clear indicator of both the difficulty and quality of the matchups.
The bull power was relentless, the dirt conditions were the best seen to date this season, and the animals were able to perform at their highest level. That combination created a long round that demanded absolute precision, balance, and commitment — the very foundation upon which professional bull riding was built.
Inside the Garden, the crowd was loud, engaged, and ready to unleash the beast. From the opening chute pull to the final out, the energy was unmistakable. And for those watching at home on Paramount+, the stage was set for a marquee night of elite competition.
Top 3 Takeaways — Night One
No. 3 — Bull Power Set the Tone
Championship-round caliber bucking bulls dominated the long round, turning opportunity into survival for many of the sport’s biggest names.
Qynn Andersen, competing as a team invite, was bucked off Ugly This at 6.53 seconds and did not move on to Night 2 of the Unleash The Beast event, as invited riders must post a score in the Team Challenge to advance.
No. 2 — The Standings Leaders Were Tested
Several riders near the top of the world standings struggled to convert in Round 1.
Dalton Kasel was bucked off Turning Point at 6.44 seconds.
Brady Fielder came up just short aboard Hard Eight at 7.08 seconds.
Jess Lockwood was bucked off Blown Away at 2.56 seconds.
John Crimber was bucked off Holy Roller at 5.47 seconds.
The lone exception was Marco Rizzo, a hometown favorite with the New York Mavericks, who capitalized with an 82.05-point ride.
No. 1 — A Statement Ride from a Legend
Sage Steele Kimzey, fresh off appearances at Knicks and Ranger games inside The Garden and on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Now with Andy Cohen along with Daylon Swearingen that aired on Thursday night, delivered the ride of the night, covering Blue Duck for 90.60 points to win Round 1 and earn 29 world points.
Top 3 Scores — Night One
Friday, January 9, 2026
Sage Steele Kimzey — 90.60 points
Clay Guiton — 89.10 points
Julio Cesar Marques — 88.65 points
Farewell to a Champion
Before shifting focus to Saturday night, the spotlight briefly turned to honor Cooper Davis, the 2016 PBR World Champion, who officially closed the book on a monumental career inside the arena.
Davis accomplished everything he set out to achieve in professional bull riding, leaving behind a legacy defined by consistency, professionalism, and respect throughout the sport.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Round 2 — Buck Off at the Garden
Saturday night brought a noticeable shift in tone. The pressure intensified, the margins tightened, and every qualified ride carried added weight as the event moved deeper into its three-day grind, and former PBR Official Entertainer Flint Rasmussen came out of retirement to once again don the Cooper Tires jersey, grab a harmonica right around “nine o’clock on a Saturday,” and once again own Madison Square Garden.
Top 3 Takeaways — Night Two
No. 3 — A Breakthrough Win Signals the Future
Leandro Zampollo captured the Round 2 victory with an 87.80-point ride aboard The Hondo, earning 29 world points.
No. 2 — Consistency Became the Separator
Four events into the season, several riders near the top of the standings struggled to convert.
Brady Fielder was bucked off Baldy at 6.52 seconds.
Callum Miller, returning after a broken jaw suffered in Chicago, positioned himself with control, 2-for-2 heading into Championship Sunday.
No. 1 — Honoring the Past Matters
Flint Rasmussen’s presence inside the arena served as a powerful reminder that tradition and heritage remain foundational to professional bull riding.
At a time when many elements of the sport continue to evolve, it was refreshing to see an entertainer who still embraces the role as it was originally intended while also appreciating red leather. (If you know, you know). His use of face paint honors the sport’s history and generations past, preserving a tradition that still connects modern fans to Western sports’ roots.
Rasmussen manages to feel contemporary while reminding audiences of the sport’s roots. He remains as engaging today as when I first saw him in 2004. Hats off to Flint for continuing to honor the past while still delivering the kind of timeless entertainment that has made him one of the most respected figures the sport has ever known.
Top 12 Aggregate Standings After Two Go-Rounds
Heading into Championship Sunday
Callum Miller — 174.85
Julio Cesar Marques — 174.55
Koltin Hevalow — 172.55
Kaique Pacheco — 172.55
Keyshawn Whitehorse — 172.20
Sage Steele Kimzey — 171.70
Alex Cerqueira — 162.55
Clay Guiton — 89.10
Leandro Zampollo — 87.80
Daylon Swearingen — 87.00
Hudson Bolton — 86.60
Kaiden Loud — 86.50
Championship Sunday — Buck Off at the Garden | January 11, 2026
After two nights of relentless bull power, Championship Sunday arrived with unanswered questions and historic stakes inside the world’s most famous arena.
Top 3 Takeaways — Championship Sunday
No. 3 — Round Three Delivered on the Biggest Stage
Fourteen qualified rides were recorded in Round 3.
Jess Lockwood, the 2017 and 2019 PBR World Champion, covered Rockville for 89.35 points, earning 29 world points and advancing following an injury to Kaique Pacheco.
For the most up-to-date information on rider injuries, fans are encouraged to click HERE.
No. 2 — The Championship Round Rose to the Moment
The championship round showcased exactly why this event carried so much weight.
Seven of the twelve riders advanced and converted — with five going for 90 points or more. The Garden was absolutely rocking in witnessing this high-level showdown between elite bull riders and some of the best bucking bulls in the world.
Sage Steele Kimzey capped the sold-out weekend by covering Lights Out for 92.05 points, winning two of the four go-rounds with two monster 90-point rides and finally winning in New York.
Keyshawn Whitehorse, who had the honor of ringing the bell to open the NYSE on Friday after getting engaged to his fiancé Thursday night at the Statue of Liberty, was the only rider to go 3-for-3 heading into the short go. He bucked off hard and was stepped on in the championship round, making Kimzey the only rider to go 4-for-4 on the weekend.
No. 1 — A New Man Sat Atop the World Standings
Championship Sunday also brought a shift at the top of the standings.
Julio Cesar Marques — like Rizzo, a hometown favorite who rides for the New York Mavericks — emerged as the new No. 1 bull rider in the world.
Three-time and reigning PBR World Champion José Vitor Leme opened the 2026 season 0-for-5, while several other top contenders struggled to capitalize under pressure.
All of it underscored just how unforgiving the sport can be — especially at Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena.
Top 3 Finishers — Buck Off at the Garden
Sage Steele Kimzey — Aggregate Score: 350.80
Julio Cesar Marques — Aggregate Score: 265.65
Clay Guiton — Aggregate Score: 265.55
Event Results
Full event results for the Buck Off at the Garden can be found HERE.
UPDATED 2026 PBR UNLEASH THE BEAST WORLD STANDINGS
BEYOND THE DIRT
What happens in the arena thrills fans, but sometimes what happens outside it matters just as much. As a Western culture rooted in doing the right thing, we come together to support those in need — and the PBR has proudly stood behind Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation since its beginning.
Our Mission
Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation helps individuals whose mobility has been changed by injury or illness regain access to the outdoors. Through providing Action Trackchairs to those in Oklahoma and Arkansas who cannot afford them, we ensure physical challenges don’t mean life from the sidelines.
To donate, volunteer, or learn more by clicking HERE.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media