TULSA, Okla. – Ben Marquis of Marquis Metal Works and Jeremy Walker backed the Brinks armored money truck into the BOK Center on Sunday afternoon for one rider, and Derek Kolbaba seemed poised to rob the two men of $25,000.

Instead, their security guard – a 1,850-pound bovine beast – Bill The Butcher bailed out his owner and caretaker by disposing Kolbaba in 4.59 seconds in the championship round of the Express Ranches Classic, presented by Osage Casino.

“It’s good,” Marquis said. “I mean, I wish Derek would’ve rode him. Derek has the capability, for sure. He’s a hell of a rider. He’s got the skill, talent. Things just didn’t go his way that time. It ended up going ours, or Bill’s. But I’d love to see Derek pick him again, for sure.”

Bill The Butcher did not use any tricks or wild moves like he is sometimes capable of against Kolbaba, which was surprising considering how energized he was all afternoon in the backpens. Throughout the day he was thrashing dirt all over and pacing in his pen, anticipating a matchup against one of the Top 35 riders in the world.

The 5-year-old actually left the bucking chute into Kolbaba’s riding hand and gave the No. 8 rider in the world standings a fair shot of riding him.

Kolbaba, who selected the bull with the fifth pick in the championship round draft, knew he let a great opportunity to win some money towards building a new home with his wife, Aymie, in Washington pass him by.

“I felt really good, and the way that bull bucks you really have to charge the front end, and I kind of missed it there,” Kolbaba said. “I put too much pressure on my hand and next thing I know I am on his neck. Little mistakes, but we will keep picking him.”

Marquis said watching his bull on the back of the bucking chutes reminded him of the same kind of nerves that a father has watching his son step into the batter’s box in a Little League game.

Once Kolbaba hit the dirt, Marquis walked over to Walker and shook his bull man’s hand.

The first matchup went in their favor even despite what Walker would consider a subpar performance from their bull.

Walker admitted that Bill The Butcher did not bring his full potential on Sunday afternoon, but the son of Air Time still got the job done for a career-best 44.25-point bull score.

“I can breathe now,” Walker said. “I don’t know. I think the ground affected him a little bit. The last few times I bucked him he’s been way better than that. Wasn’t bad by no means, but I have higher expectations.”

Bill The Butcher was bucking for the first time on the premier series since a subpar performance last October in Greensboro, North Carolina, when Joao Ricardo Vieira rode him for 80 points.

During that ride, Bill The Butcher – then known as AJ for Air Time Jr. – appeared to run out of steam midway through the ride.

Marquis and Walker (Paradigm Bull Company) acquired Bill The Butcher this past June with the goal of getting him another crack at the Unleash The Beast.

The stipulations for Sunday’s bounty included a clause that if a re-ride flag was thrown for inferior bull performance, Kolbaba would then take home the $25,000 regardless of if he made the 8-second mark or not.

That was not the case, though, and Marquis is hopeful PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert will bring Bill The Butcher back for a future Unleash The Beast event. Lambert was not in Tulsa, as he was attending the Celebration of Life Service for the late J Pat Evans being held in Fort Worth, Texas.

Walker said he will likely give the bull a week off before considering bringing him to Nashville for the Jack Daniel’s Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires.

“I’ve been worried about him all week,” Walker said. “He was hanging his head and not eating a little bit. All the stuff I was probably making up in my head, but I am just trying to keep everything perfect.”

If Bill The Butcher receives another out, Marquis is ready to offer up the $25,000 bounty once again.

“Oh absolutely,” Marquis concluded. “Twenty-five grand is going to roll forward until this bull’s rode. And after that, I hope he’s a long-standing bull and around for a while.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko