04.27.26 - News
Put up or shut up: Tacoma closed the door—now Fort Worth will crown the best bull rider in the world as world champion
A high-stakes regular season finale sets the stage for the 2026 PBR World Finals in Fort Worth.
By James Phillips
The regular season of the PBR Unleash the Beast reached its conclusion in Tacoma, Washington, delivering a high-stakes finale that demanded precision, composure, and execution at the highest level. With Fort Worth and the World Finals on the horizon, every out carried measurable consequence.
For the contenders at the top, it was about tightening their grip on position and building momentum. For those on the bubble—and those just outside the cut line—it was a final opportunity to force their way into the field. When the dust settled, Tacoma did not just close the regular season—it defined who advanced, and who was left searching for another path.
THE FINAL PUSH BEFORE FORT WORTH
TOP 12 AFTER ROUND 1 — HEADING INTO ROUND 2 & THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND (SATURDAY NIGHT)
TOP 12 — AFTER ROUND 1 (TACOMA)
Brady Fielder — 92.35 points — 29 UTB points
John Crimber — 89.00 points — 18 UTB points
Callum Miller — 88.00 points — 17 UTB points
Daylon Swearingen — 87.50 points — 16 UTB points
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto — 87.15 points — 15 UTB points
Bruno Carvalho — 86.95 points — 14 UTB points
Hudson Bolton — 86.90 points — 13 UTB points
Alex Cerqueira — 86.85 points — 12 UTB points
T-9. Thiago Salgado — 86.80 points — 10.5 UTB points
T-9. Bob Mitchell — 86.80 points — 10.5 UTB points
Luciano De Castro — 86.55 points — 9 UTB points
Cassio Dias — 86.30 points — 8 UTB points
FRIDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2026 — TOP 3 TAKEAWAYS
Bruno Carvalho delivered one of the most critical rides of Friday night, rising to the moment when his season was on the line. Entering Tacoma ranked 30th in the world, Carvalho understood exactly what was at stake—and he responded with precision.
Matched up against Love County, Carvalho didn’t just make the whistle—he dominated the ride. The bull was scored 42.30 points, which by comparison wasn’t among the highest of the night. But that only highlighted how effective Carvalho was, staying in complete control from start to finish to earn an 86.95-point ride and a sixth-place finish in Round 1.
He was the only rider on the bubble Friday night who truly capitalized.
That performance pushed him from 30th to 28th in the world standings, putting him firmly within striking distance. And with the way he rode, the path forward became clear—one more qualified ride, paired with a go-round placing, could very well have been enough to punch his ticket to Fort Worth and the PBR World Finals.
Eight seconds stood between Bruno Carvalho and the biggest stage in bull riding—and on Friday night, he proved he was ready for it.
John Crimber proved once again Friday night that he had no intention of giving an inch in the race for a World Championship. Sitting No. 1 in the world standings, Crimber didn’t ride like a man trying to protect a lead—he rode like someone determined to extend it.
Matched up against Level Up, Crimber delivered an 89-point ride that, for a moment, looked like it might have been enough to win the go-round. The bull was scored 43.65 points, making it one of the more complete and well-matched rides of the night.
When you’re leading the world, the best defense really was a relentless offense. Crimber kept his foot on the gas, refusing to coast, refusing to play it safe.
Brady Fielder continued to build momentum Friday night, delivering a statement ride that set the tone for the final stop of the regular season.
Matched up against Sucker Punch, a bull that entered the night a perfect 15-0, Fielder met the moment head-on, putting together a dominant 92.35-point ride while the bull was scored 44.65 points.
That performance earned him the go-round victory and 29 crucial UTB points, tightening an already intense race at the top.
Saturday night elevated the intensity to its peak. With Round 2 and the Championship Round remaining, the final stop of the regular season became a definitive test.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2026 — TOP 3 TAKEAWAYS
Trace Redd delivered a highly efficient and composed ride Saturday night, taking Oyster Creek Brawler for 89.60 points.
The bull was scored 43.60 points, and Redd stayed in control from start to finish.
At its essence PBR is the world’s best, riding the baddest bulls, making the biggest money.
The world’s top riders showed out big time in the championship round.
Every short-go ride broke the 90-point barrier – with four marked 92 points or higher.
Luciano De Castro set the tone aboard Sucker Punch for 90.50 points. The bull was scored 44.30 points.
Thiago Salgado followed with 92.05 points on Eyes On Me. The bull was scored 44.65 points.
Brady Fielder added 92.20 points aboard Hard Times. The bull was scored 44.70 points.
Hudson Bolton rode Tigger for 92.25 points. The bull was scored 44.70 points.
And then there was Daylon Swearingen’s monster trip that made Tacoma one of the most thrilling complete championship rounds of the entire season.
Daylon Swearingen delivered the defining moment of the weekend.
He drafted Pegasus, the No. 1 bull in the world, and covered him for 94.90 points. The bull was scored 45.90 points, while Swearingen earned a nearly perfect 49 points on the rider side.
He went 3-for-3 on the weekend (and has now scored on 9 of his last 11 bulls), picked up his second win of the season and rocketed from No. 17 to No. 8 heading toward Fort Worth.
HONORABLE MENTION — YETI BUCKING BULL OF THE YEAR RACE
Let us not forget about what may have been the closest YETI Bucking Bull of the Year race in PBR history.
While Pegasus remained the No. 1 bull in the world, the championship round in Tacoma proved just how quickly momentum could shift.
Buck Nasty made a massive statement, taking on Koltin Hevalow and ending the matchup in just 2.10 seconds. The bull was scored 46.10 points—the highest-marked bull score of the entire weekend, significantly tightening the standings.
That performance vaulted Buck Nasty from No. 10 in the world all the way to No. 3, closing the gap in what had already become a razor-thin race at the top.
With the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth still ahead, and with scores like that being posted under pressure, the race remained far from decided. Pegasus continued to hold the No. 1 position, but the margin separating the top contenders had become increasingly narrow—so much so that any bull currently ranked inside the Top 10 had a legitimate opportunity to be crowned World Champion.
You can find the updated YETI Bucking Bull of the Year standings a little further down in this article.
TOP 5 FINISHERS — TACOMA (FINAL REGULAR SEASON STOP)
Daylon Swearingen
Aggregate (3 Head): 270.85 points
Unleash the Beast Points Earned: 138
T-2. Brady Fielder
Aggregate (3 Head): 268.30 points
Unleash the Beast Points Earned: 98
T-2. Hudson Bolton
Aggregate (3 Head): 268.30 points
Unleash the Beast Points Earned: 92
Thiago Salgado
Aggregate (3 Head): 267.05 points
Unleash the Beast Points Earned: 60.50
Luciano De Castro
Aggregate (3 Head): 264.50 points
Unleash the Beast Points Earned: 53
Click HERE for Tacoma’s final event standings.
Click HERE to view the updated YETI Bucking Bull of the Year standings.
Click HERE to view the updated Unleash the Beast World Standings.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media