Claudio “Junior” Montanha Jr. has been one of the most consistent Brazilian forces in professional bull riding since arriving in the United States in 2017. Though he didn’t start riding until he was 16, the Ribeirão dos Índios native quickly proved his natural talent, winning events in Brazil — including the famed Barretos Rodeo and a national title with the Liga Nacional de Rodeio — before setting his sights on the PBR’s premier series.

Montanha made his U.S. debut in 2017 and wasted no time making an impression. In just his fifth event on American soil, he went 3-for-3 to win in Youngstown, Ohio, and closed his rookie year ranked No. 13 in the world. The following season, he climbed to a career-best No. 4 finish, picking up victories in Duluth and Billings and notching his career-high ride of 90.75 points on Acting Crazy in Columbus, Ohio.

A two-time PBR Global Cup Champion and three-time Team Brazil qualifier, Montanha built a reputation for consistency and poise under pressure, qualifying for the PBR World Finals eight times between 2017 and 2024. In 2021, he captured his fourth Unleash The Beast event win and continued to be a steady competitor on the sport’s biggest stages.

When the PBR Teams Series launched, Montanha was drafted by the Austin Gamblers in the fourth round of the inaugural 2022 draft, helping the team to a regular-season No. 1 finish. After missing the 2023 season with a broken arm, he returned in 2024 with a vengeance, signing as a free agent with the Texas Rattlers. There, he went 8-for-14 (57%) to help power Texas to a 16-12 record, a No. 4 regular-season finish, and another deep playoff run. That same year, Montanha also captured the PBR Challenger Series Championship event win, further proving his resilience.

Now settled in Decatur, Texas, with his wife, Camila Montanha, Claudio remains one of the sport’s most disciplined veterans. Off the dirt, he enjoys Panda Express, listens to gospel music, and says if he weren’t a bull rider, he’d be a veterinarian. A black-coffee-drinking, Bible-carrying cowboy who trains daily, Montanha continues to ride with the same heart and quiet determination that have defined his two-decade-long career — still chasing gold buckles with the same fire that first brought him from Brazil to the world stage.