PUEBLO, Colo. – Mason Taylor certainly looked much better in his second matchup against Chiseled in almost four months at the Lazy E Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The only problem was, so too did Chiseled.
The 2019 ABBI Classic Champion outmuscled Taylor in 7.27 seconds during the championship round of PBR Bullnanza for a 46.25-point bull score, putting himself in a tie with 2019 World Champion Smooth Operator atop the YETI World Champion Bull standings.
Chiseled was his standard World Champion-contending self with a ton of kick and power leaving the bucking chutes in Guthrie, Oklahoma, turning to the right and into Taylor’s riding hand.
“Here is the thing, great effort by Mason Taylor and a great effort by Chiseled,” two-time World Champion Justin McBride said for the CBS Sports Network broadcast. “Those are two of them going at it right there. Taylor is going with everything he’s got trying to get there. He did learn from last time. He didn’t rear back. Chiseled just beat him fair and square right there. That was an outstanding day from Chiseled. Both of them should be proud of their efforts.”
Fans can watch the conclusion of PBR Bullnanza on CBS Sports Network Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
Chiseled previously bucked Taylor off on April 26 at the Unleash the Beast event in Guthrie in 5.23 seconds for a 45.5-point score. Taylor also lasted 6.64 seconds against Chiseled last year Last Cowboy Standing at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Taylor said it wasn’t like Chiseled was bucking any harder this time around inside the Lazy E Arena, but rather Chiseled once again just proving he is one of the best in the sport.
“I was riding him like you’re supposed to today,” Taylor said. “He just doesn’t weaken any. That’s just what makes him so great. But yeah, I was going at him and he was bucking hard.
“He’s awesome. I’ll pick him every chance I get.”
Taylor missed the second-half UTB opener in Bismarck because of a wrist injury, but the 21-year-old used an 88.75-point ride on Black Cadillac to win Round 2 earlier in the day on Saturday. Taylor’s third round win of the season propelled him to a fifth-place finish this weekend, which is his second-best placement in 2020.
The second-year pro will head into next weekend’s PBR TicketSmarter Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, in Salt Lake City ranked 15th in the world standings following the 29 world points he earned in Guthrie.
“I feel awesome,” Taylor said. “No problems at all, and it felt really good to get another round win.”
The 2020 YETI World Champion Bull race was expected to be front and center Saturday at the Lazy E Arena, and Chiseled once again reiterated he may be the bull to beat come the end of the season.
Chiseled is averaging 45.75 points in eight outs this season, which is the same World Champion average (a bull’s best eight outs) as Smooth Operator.
The 2020 YETI World Champion Bull race is shaping up to potentially becoming a match between a proven veteran – Smooth Operator (10 years old) – and a rising star – Chiseled (5 years old).
Smooth Operator was competing for the 2015 World Championship the year Chiseled was born in Oklahoma on the D&H Cattle Company ranch.
“I thought Smooth Operator looked really good the other day,” H.D. Page said earlier in the week. “It is impressive how good he still bucks.”
The 2020 YETI World Champion Bull will be the animal with the highest average bull score from their top eight regular-season outs and two outs at the PBR World Finals.
Page told PBR.com earlier this week he believes Chiseled may just be the bull to beat come the Finals.
RELATED: World Champion pedigree in Chiseled’s bloodlines
“I think Chiseled is the best one, myself,” Page said. “But, I know there are a lot of really good ones, and I know those bulls have a mind of their own. There are a lot of variables, and it is a long season and all that business. It all boils down to him. He has to stay sound first off, the same as the rest of them in the race. There is a lot of things. If he can stay sound, I think it is kind of his to lose at this point. But Smooth Operator is bucking hard, and there is a bunch more bucking hard. There is probably a lot of bulls that could be in the race.”
TOP BULL SCORES AT PBR BULLNANZA
Chiseled – 46.25 points – 7.27 seconds vs. Mason Taylor
Homegrown – 45.5 points – 3.39 seconds vs. Mauricio Moreira
Hostage – 45.5 points – 3.4 seconds vs. Amadeu Campos
Hurricane Party - 45 points - 5.45 seconds vs. J.B. Mauney
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
