Top Three Takeaways from Friday, April 10, 2026

3. Bull Power Takes Center Stage

Plain and simple – bull power dominated the night.

The Bucking Bull of the Year race quickly became the focal point, as only nine qualified rides were recorded throughout the entire opening performance. Time and again, the bulls proved why Sioux Falls is one of the most demanding stops on tour.

At one point, Red Demon delivered a dominant performance, bucking off Luciano de Castro and posting a massive 45.40-point bull score to take over the No. 1 ranking in the world.

That lead was short-lived when just minutes later, Pegasus answered.

With Dener Barbosa aboard, Pegasus surged back to the top of the standings with a 45.30-point effort, reclaiming the No. 1 position in the Bucking Bull of the Year race presented by YETI.

The night also featured controversy.

Brady Fielder appeared to have a qualified ride aboard Ransom but was called for a slap – an extremely close and debatable decision. Even after replay, the call remained inconclusive from a viewer’s perspective. In situations like that, it often comes down to judgment, and while arguments can be made either way, the officials made their ruling.

Had the ride counted, Fielder was in position to challenge for the top spots in the round – further emphasizing just how critical every point has become this late in the season.

2. Jess Lockwood Returns in a Big Way

Welcome back, Jess Lockwood.

After a six-week absence, the two-time World Champion made his return to the premier series—and wasted no time making his presence felt.

Lockwood became the first rider to convert on the night with an 89.15-point ride aboard Stryker, who was marked 43.45 points.

The ride vaulted him into the No. 2 position in the go-round, earning 18 critical world points as the race toward Fort Worth and Dickies Arena continued to tighten.

More importantly, it sent a message: one of the sport’s most dangerous competitors was back—and right on time.

1. Barbosa Delivers a Career-Defining Ride Aboard Pegasus

When the dust settled, one moment stood above the rest.

Dener Barbosa delivered the highest-marked ride of the night—and the highest score of his career—covering Pegasus for a massive 93.10 points.

Just moments earlier, Red Demon had taken over the No. 1 position in the YETI Bucking Bull of the Year race after bucking off Luciano de Castro, setting the stage for one of the most pivotal outs of the night.

That meant the pressure wasn’t only on Barbosa—it was on Pegasus as well.

In a matchup featuring the top-ranked bull in the world, both answered.

Barbosa matched power with precision from start to finish, while Pegasus delivered the kind of performance that had defined his season. Together, they produced a defining moment, reclaiming the No. 1 position in the YETI Bucking Bull of the Year race and resetting the tone at the top of the standings.

The ride secured the go-round victory and earned Barbosa 29 world points for his push toward qualifying for the World Finals in Fort Worth.

On a night dominated by bull power and limited opportunities, Barbosa capitalized in the biggest moment available—and made it count.

Standings After Performance No. 1 – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

1. Dener Barbosa – 93.10 points – 29 UTB points
2. Jess Lockwood – 89.15 points – 18 UTB points
3. Daniel Keeping – 89.00 points – 17 UTB points
4. Eduardo Aparecido – 88.85 points – 16 UTB points
5. Daylon Swearingen – 88.55 points – 15 UTB points
6. Cort McFadden – 88.25 points – 14 UTB points
7. Alex Junior da Silva – 87.75 points – 13 UTB points
8. Claudio Montanha Jr. – 86.95 points – 11.5 UTB points
   T-8. John Crimber – 86.95 points – 11.5 UTB points

Top Three Takeaways from Saturday, April 11, 2026

3. Claudio Montanha Jr. Continues to Build Momentum

Claudio Montanha Jr. continued his strong form, extending his streak to six consecutive qualified rides and establishing himself as a legitimate contender heading into Championship Sunday.

He delivered an 87.70-point ride aboard Max Bet, pairing consistency with control in one of the toughest bullpens of the season. With two scores secured, he positioned himself firmly inside the Top 3 overall.

2. Pressure Mounting for Title Contenders Kimzey and Fielder

Sage Steele Kimzey and Brady Fielder both faced critical moments Saturday night.

Kimzey was bucked off Mouse Trap in 3.83 seconds, while Fielder was dispatched by Ice Tray in just 2.27 seconds. With the standings tightening, both riders entered Championship Sunday needing to capitalize.

1. John Crimber Seizes Control of the Event

John Crimber began building momentum Saturday night with an 89.40-point ride aboard Rolex, setting himself up for a run at the event lead.

Event Standings – Sioux Falls (Rounds 1 & 2 Combined)

1. John Crimber – 176.35 points – 39.5 UTB points
2. Daniel Keeping – 175.65 points – 29.5 UTB points
3. Claudio Montanha Jr. – 174.65 points – 28 UTB points
4. Daylon Swearingen – 174.60 points – 27 UTB points
5. Alex Junior da Silva – 174.40 points – 25 UTB points
6. Dener Barbosa – 93.10 points – 29 UTB points
7. Jess Lockwood – 89.15 points – 18 UTB points
8. Eduardo Aparecido – 88.85 points – 16 UTB points
9. Alex Cerqueira – 88.55 points – 18 UTB points
10. Cort McFadden – 88.25 points – 14 UTB points
11. Kase Hitt – 87.70 points – 16.5 UTB points
12. Bob Mitchell – 87.35 points – 15 UTB points

Championship Sunday – Sioux Falls Delivers a Defining Finish

As the dust settled on two grueling rounds inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Championship Sunday arrived with everything on the line.

What had already proven to be one of the most physically demanding stops of the season now came down to a single day where opportunities were limited and mistakes were magnified.

With only three qualified rides in the Championship Round, the bulls once again proved dominant.

Top Three Takeaways from Championship Sunday, April 12th, 2026

3. Daniel Keeping Delivers His Strongest Performance of the Season

Daniel Keeping entered Championship Sunday a perfect 2-for-2 and continued to build on that momentum with an 88.20-point ride aboard Tecovas Triple Aught, owned by Chad and Addi Drury of Nothing But Try Ranch.

Finishing 3-for-4 in one of the toughest pens of the season, Keeping put together his most complete performance of 2026—moving from No. 32 to No. 20 heading toward World Finals.

2. Sage Steele Kimzey Shows Grit When It Counts

Sage Steele Kimzey showed exactly why he’s a perennial title contender, delivering an 89.30-point ride aboard Jameson in Round 3 to secure his place in the Championship Round and gain valuable ground in the standings.

From there, he took on Magic Potion, a bull that had bucked off 58 consecutive riders, in an effort to regain momentum and reassert himself in the title race.

1. John Crimber Rises to the Occasion When It Matters Most

For several weeks, the World Championship race remained razor-thin, with neither John Crimber nor Sage Steele Kimzey able to create meaningful separation. That changed in Sioux Falls.

Crimber capitalized at every opportunity, becoming the only rider to go a perfect 4-for-4 on the weekend, while also winning three of the four go-rounds. He covered Cherry Shot, Rolex, Scrappy, and Lights Out to deliver one of the most dominant performances of the 2026 season and create real separation in the title race.

Top Five Finishers – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

1. John Crimber – 357.80 points (aggregate on 4 head) – 196.5 UTB points
2. Claudio Montanha Jr. – 265.90 points – 110 UTB points
3. Daniel Keeping – 263.85 points – 91.5 UTB points
4. Luciano de Castro – 245.40 points – 61 UTB points
5. Dener Barbosa – 177.95 points – 64 UTB points

Did you miss any of the action from this past weekend’s event in Sioux Falls? Want to see how your favorite riders fared against some of the rankest bulls in the PBR?

For the complete event results, including every ride, every score, and full round-by-round breakdowns, click HERE.

The YETI World Champion Bucking Bull race is as tight as it has ever been, with multiple elite bulls trading momentum at the top of the standings throughout the season.

For the updated YETI World Champion Bucking Bull standings following Sioux Falls, click HERE.

The race for the gold buckle continues to intensify on the rider side as well.

With Sioux Falls now complete and only two regular-season stops remaining, every point matters more than ever.

For the updated Unleash The Beast World Standings following Sioux Falls, click HERE.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With only two regular-season events remaining—Billings and Tacoma—the message to every rider in contention is simple: it’s time to put your foot on the gas and keep it there.

John Crimber has created separation, but the race is far from over. If he can maintain a 60–70% riding percentage from here through the World Finals at Dickies Arena, he will be extremely difficult to catch.

However, the points structure still leaves the door open. One mistake, and riders inside the Top 10 have an opportunity to close the gap quickly.

If Sage Steele Kimzey gets hot in Billings and capitalizes—and Crimber stumbles—the race tightens immediately. The same can be said for Brady Fielder, who, despite an off weekend in Sioux Falls, has the ability to quickly climb back into the Top 3 with a strong showing.

One thing is certain—there is still a lot left to be decided, and the road to Fort Worth is only getting more intense.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media