In Arkansas, the rallying cry most often heard echoing through packed arenas is “Woo Pig Sooie!” as Razorback fans proudly call the Hogs. But on March 6–7, the energy inside Simmons Bank Arena will shift from college sports tradition to one of the most electrifying spectacles in professional sports as the PBR Unleash The Beast tour returns to Little Rock for Stop No. 12 of the 2026 season.
For two nights in Little Rock, the world’s best bull riders will attempt to conquer the rankest bovine athletes in the sport, knowing that every eight-second ride could dramatically shift the standings as the season continues to build toward championship contention. Inside Simmons Bank Arena, fans can expect the intensity, drama, and raw power that define the Unleash The Beast tour every time the chute gate cracks open.
Friday night, March 6, 2026, inside Simmons Bank Arena delivered exactly what fans had come to expect when the PBR Unleash The Beast rolled into the Natural State—power, unpredictability, and a whole lot of fireworks.
ABBI Classic Night set the tone early as the sport’s top young bucking bulls announced themselves in emphatic fashion while riders battled through a rugged slate of matchups. When the dust settled, 13 qualified rides lit up the scoreboard, yet none of the contenders sitting near the very top of the world standings managed to fully capitalize on the opportunity.
Still, the night was far from quiet.
Hard landings, second chances, and flashes of brilliance shaped the opening chapter of the weekend. From riders digging deep after violent wrecks to momentum swings that reshaped the night’s storyline, Friday night once again proved why every single out matters on the Unleash The Beast.
Here were my Top Three Takeaways from Night One in Little Rock, counting down from No. 3 to No. 1.
No. 3 — Keyshawn Whitehorse Took a Massive Shot, Then Capitalized on His Second Chance
If grit had a face on Friday night, it belonged to Keyshawn Whitehorse.
Whitehorse absorbed one of the harder hits of the evening during his opening out—an impact that could have sidelined many riders. Instead, the Utah cowboy regrouped, climbed back aboard, and made the most of the opportunity when a re-ride was awarded.
Facing El Chapo, Whitehorse delivered a composed and technically sound ride for 86.50 points, turning a brutal early moment into a display of toughness and determination.
It may not have shaken up the very top of the leaderboard just yet, but it served as a reminder that on the Unleash The Beast, one more chance can completely change the story of the night.
No. 2 — Paulo Eduardo Rossetto Showed Why His Versatility Makes Him One of the Most Unique Riders in the Sport
Few riders in the history of professional bull riding possess the rare versatility that Paulo Eduardo Rossetto demonstrated Friday night.
Rossetto has long been known for his unique ability to ride either right-handed or left-handed depending on the anticipated direction of the bull. That rare skill once again proved valuable in Little Rock.
Matched up with Blonde Bomber, Rossetto delivered a strong and technically sound ride that earned 89.00 points, finishing second in the round.
It was another example of the adaptability he displayed frequently during his time as a member of the Missouri Thunder in the PBR Team Series.
No. 1 — Austin Richardson Delivered the Ride of the Night
When the dust settled on Friday night, Austin Richardson owned the moment.
Matched up against Ransom, the Dallas, Texas cowboy delivered a near-flawless performance that electrified the Little Rock crowd. Richardson rode with authority from the gate before the judges rewarded the effort with a massive 93.30-point score.
The ride not only won Round 1 but also earned 29 world points and stood as the highest-marked ride of the Unleash The Beast season to that point.
More than halfway through the season—and with less than two months remaining before the tour heads to Fort Worth to crown the next PBR World Champion and award the $1 million bonus—Richardson’s ride stands as the highest scored of the 2026 season.
Top 12 Heading into Round Two — Championship Saturday Night
(After Friday Night — March 6, 2026)
Austin Richardson — 93.30 points — 29 world points
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto — 89.00 points — 18 world points
Cassio Dias — 87.50 points — 17 world points
Alan de Souza — 87.40 points — 16 world points
Thiago Salgado — 86.90 points — 15 world points
Cort McFadden — 86.85 points — 14 world points
Keyshawn Whitehorse — 86.50 points — 13 world points
Ezekiel Mitchell — 86.05 points — 12 world points
Claudio Montanha Jr. — 85.90 points — 11 world points
José Vitor Leme — 85.75 points — 10 world points
Koltin Hevalow — 85.55 points — 9 world points
Bob Mitchell — 85.25 points — 8 world points
Championship Saturday Night — Round Two and the Race for the Event Title
Saturday night, March 7, 2026, the action inside Simmons Bank Arena continued as riders returned for Round Two and the championship round of the Little Rock Unleash The Beast event presented by Kubota.
With the leaderboard tightly packed and several of the sport’s biggest names sitting within striking distance of the lead, the pressure intensified as the remaining outs of the weekend unfolded.
Here were my Top Three Takeaways from Championship Saturday Night, counting down once again from No. 3 to No. 1.
No. 3 — Sage Kimzey Rode Elmo to Win Round Two
Seven-time PRCA World Champion Sage Kimzey reminded everyone Saturday night why he remains one of the most dominant riders in the sport—and why he currently sits No. 1 in the PBR Unleash The Beast world standings.
Matched up with Elmo in Round Two, Kimzey delivered a composed and technically sound ride for 89.35 points, winning the round and securing his place in the championship round.
No. 2 — Sage Kimzey Dominates Lights Out in the Championship Round
Kimzey returned in the championship round and once again delivered…on a very familiar opponent.
Kimzey produced a commanding 91.55-point ride aboard Lights Out to win the championship round and ultimately the event in Little Rock.
The ride was controlled from the moment the latch cracked until the whistle blew. Lights Out changed directions throughout the ride, but Kimzey never lost position.
The victory marked Kimzey’s third Unleash The Beast event win of the season—remarkably, all three coming aboard Lights Out.
Only two additional riders reached the eight-second mark in the championship round. Leandro Zampollo covered Nobody for 89.50 points, while John Crimber, awarded a re-ride after his original bull did not perform up to standards, converted Mike’s Motive for 87.75 points.
Zampollo’s finish also moved him from No. 5 to No. 3 in the world standings heading into the one and only regular-season Major on the calendar this weekend in Tallahassee, Florida.
No. 1 — A Difficult Moment for One of the Sport’s Greatest Bucking Bulls
Sometimes the most significant moment of the night has nothing to do with a score.
When Brady Fielder nodded for Man Hater in the championship round, the matchup had all the ingredients for what could have been one of the highest-scoring rides of the season.
Instead, the out ended abruptly when Man Hater slipped near the seven-second mark.
For fans of the sport, the moment was difficult to watch. Man Hater has established himself as one of the premier bucking bulls of his generation and was widely considered a contender for another PBR World Champion Bull title.
Only two bulls in PBR history—Little Yellow Jacket and Bushwacker—have won three world titles.
Man Hater appeared well on his way toward joining that historic company.
Top Five Finishers — Two-Day, Three-Head Aggregate
Sage Kimzey — 180.90 points on three head — 129 Unleash The Beast points earned
Leandro Zampollo — 177.85 points on three head — 84 Unleash The Beast points earned
John Crimber — 176.35 points on three head — 70 Unleash The Beast points earned
Alan de Souza — 175.70 points on three head — 52 Unleash The Beast points earned
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto — 174.40 points on three head — 44 Unleash The Beast points earned
Did your favorite rider fall short of the win this weekend—or miss the Top Five altogether? Want to see exactly where they finished?
If you want to see every ride score, every buck-off time, every bull score, and how the ABBI Classic shaped the complete event results, click the link below.
Click HERE for complete event results.
Updated PBR Unleash The Beast World Standings HERE.
Honorable Mentions / Beyond the Dirt
The highlight of the entire weekend, at least for me, had nothing to do with a score or a buckle.
It had everything to do with why I was in Little Rock in the first place—and why readers see a section called Beyond the Dirt in every article I write.
On Saturday night, we had the opportunity to show the world what can happen when the bull riding community, the stock contractors, and the Western way of life come together for something bigger than the sport itself. That moment came when we paid tribute to a young man who has become a tremendous inspiration to so many—13-year-old Michael LaRosa.
Michael lives with juvenile Tay-Sachs disease, and he was the first recipient of an Action Trackchair provided by Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation, the nonprofit organization I was blessed to help co-found.
Watching Michael experience that moment in front of the Little Rock crowd was something I will never forget. The joy on his face and the kindness shown by everyone involved reminded me exactly what this community is all about.
So many people went out of their way to make that moment special.
Ezekiel Mitchell, thank you for the glove and for making sure it was signed. To every rider who took the time to autograph it for Michael, thank you. To the bullfighters, to the entire arena crew, and to Flint Rasmussen, who made his return to Little Rock that night, thank you for helping create a memory that Michael and his family will carry with them forever.
On behalf of myself, as COO of Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation, I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the organization’s PR Team for forming and shepherding the idea, and the entire PBR staff and arena crew for going above and beyond to ensure that Michael, his family, and I were welcomed and cared for throughout the weekend.
A special thank-you to Mr. Bo Davis and the entire arena operations team. Bo, your willingness to help guide Michael through the arena and your kindness throughout the weekend meant more than words can fully express.
Experiences like this are exactly why I look forward to spending more time around the PBR and the incredible people who make this sport what it is.
If you would like to learn more about the mission of Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation, volunteer your time, or help support individuals who need access to equipment like the Action Trackchair, please visit our website at https://www.moafoundation.org.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media