Why Jacksonville Matters

With nine regular-season Unleash The Beast events remaining after Jacksonville, the margin for error continues to shrink. A rider can stack go-round points, bonus points and full aggregate points in a single weekend — enough to meaningfully alter the championship trajectory.

The early portion of the season establishes contenders. The midpoint confirms them.

With the 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast regular season officially past its halfway mark, Bridgeport takes center stage as Stop No. 11 on the tour. After this weekend, just two months remain before the spotlight shifts to Fort Worth for the sport’s grand finale — the PBR World Finals inside Dickies Arena.

Bridgeport presents a critical number: A rider can earn a maximum of 167 points this weekend – but only if he sweeps the entire event: wins Round 1, wins Round 2, wins the Championship Round, and wins the event aggregate.

That is not easy or common. But it is possible.

And when margins in the Top 5 are tight, 167 points can completely reshape the gold buckle race.

Sage Steele Kimzey sits No. 1 in the world with 500 points after winning Jacksonville – the fifth man to lead the standings this season.

But the margin separating the Top 5 is thin enough that one elite weekend — or one mistake — can dramatically alter the standings. Alex Cerqueira, currently No. 5 in the world, trails the lead by roughly 159 points.

Mathematically, a sweep this weekend could flip the world standings.

Two months remain in the regular season. The leaders can widen the gap. But if they stumble — even slightly — the riders behind them can make massive moves.

Consistency matters now more than ever. The most consistent bull rider, starting now all the way through Fort Worth in May, will be the best bull rider in the world and a million dollars richer.

Round 1 Matchups to Watch

Kaiden Loud vs. Squealin’ Kitty

Kaiden Loud has already proven he matches up well with Squealin’ Kitty. He rode this bull in Manchester for 86.3 points – a ride that went away from his hand.

When a rider has already seen a bull’s best move and converted, confidence shifts. If Squealin’ Kitty goes away from his hand again, Loud understands the rhythm. If the bull reverses, Loud has the experience to adjust.

Familiarity is leverage.

Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Wingnut

Ezekiel Mitchell matches up with Wingnut, a bull that has been ridden in five of his ten Teams/UTB outs by both lefties and righties. The bull likes the right but can go back to the left.

That unpredictability forces a rider to stay fundamentally sharp from the gate.

Mitchell’s balance and lower-body control will determine whether this matchup leans competitive or chaotic.

Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Living On A Prayer

Sage Steele Kimzey is blessed with Living On A Prayer.

Alan de Souza is the only man to get by this one in PBR competition. The bull hasn’t been ridden since February of 2025.

Kimzey, who has already won two events this year, is a right-hander who is really hot right now. When the No. 1 man in the world draws a bull that hasn’t been solved in over a year, it becomes more than a matchup – it’s a statement opportunity.

Felipe Furlan vs. Slick Rick

Felipe Furlan faces Slick Rick, a bull who remains unridden in PBR competition.

He’s 15-0 between the UTB tour and Teams competition, excluding a re-ride flag at a UTB last season. Across PBR competition, he has turned back 22 attempts.

That is not a coincidence. That is dominance.

When a bull carries that kind of record, the matchup becomes psychological as much as physical.

Monster Energy Team Challenge – Friday Night

Friday night remains contested under PBR Unleash The Beast rules, meaning all rides count toward the individual world standings while simultaneously impacting team results in the PBR Camping World Team Series preseason format.

Two games headline Bridgeport.

Game 1 – Missouri Thunder vs. Texas Rattlers

Missouri Thunder
• Felipe Furlan
• Macaulie Leather
• Maverick Smith
• Paulo Eduardo Rossetto

Texas Rattlers
• Brady Fielder
• Claudio Montanha Jr.
• Daniel Keeping
• Ezekiel Mitchell

Game 2 – Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. New York Mavericks

New York Mavericks
• Bob Mitchell
• Julio Cesar Marques
• Leandro Zampollo
• Marco Rizzo

Oklahoma Wildcatters
• Cort McFadden
• JaCauy Hale
• Kase Hitt
• Trace Redd

JaCauy Hale must ride to advance.

JaCauy Hale vs. Project X

JaCauy Hale draws Project X in Game 2 of the Monster Energy Team Challenge as the Oklahoma Wildcatters face the New York Mavericks.

Project X has been ridden in six of his seven UTB outs since Manchester — by both left-handers and right-handers. The opportunity is there.

But opportunity and advancement are two very different things.

This ride counts fully under Unleash The Beast rules. The score matters. The points matter. The standings implications matter.

Event Information

PBR Bridgeport
February 27–28, 2026
Bridgeport, CT | Total Mortgage Arena

Event Schedule:
• Friday – 7:45 PM ET
• Saturday – 7:45 PM ET

Tickets & Elite Seating:
Purchase Tickets HERE.

Broadcast Schedule:
Watch live and/or on demand on Paramount+ and CBS HERE.

Beyond the Dirt

When the arena lights dim and the dust settles, the fight for freedom doesn’t end for everyone. For many people who are mobility challenged, the real obstacles exist far beyond the chutes. That’s why Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation was created — to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to accessing the outdoors and the independence it represents. Adaptive all-terrain chairs can completely transform a life, allowing someone to hunt with family again, fish with their kids, navigate trails, or simply move across uneven ground with dignity and confidence.

But there’s a harsh reality: these chairs carry an outrageous price tag of nearly $25,000 each. Most of the individuals who need them are living on fixed incomes, and insurance does not cover them for civilians. For many families, that cost makes freedom feel impossible.

That’s where we step in — and where you can make a difference.

If resilience, opportunity and community mean something to you, we invite you to stand with us. Learn more, get involved, or donate at https://www.moafoundation.org. Freedom should never be reserved for only those who can afford it.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media