PUEBLO, Colo. – The 2022 Unleash The Beast series begins New Year’s Day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with the PBR Monster Energy Invitational (8 p.m. ET CBS Sports Network).

PBR.com will be counting down the final days leading up to the UTB season opener by looking back at the Top 5 bull riders at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Today, we look at Mauricio Moreira, who finished No. 5 in the 2021 PBR world standings.

No. 5 Mauricio Moreira

World Championships: 0
Best World Standings Finish: 5 (2021)

2021 Premier Series (UTB) Stats
Rides: 30
Attempts: 89
Riding Percentage: 33.71%
Top Ride: 92.25 points on County Jail (World Finals)
Average Ride Score: 87.85 points
Wins: 1 (Ocala, Florida)
15/15 Bucking Battle Victories: 2 (Sacramento, California; Greensboro, North Carolina)
Round Wins: 2
Top 5: 7
Top 10: 12
90-point Rides: 5

2021 Recap: Mauricio Moreira quickly proved that 2021 would be a breakout year for the 21-year-old when he won the season-opening event in Ocala, Florida, thanks in part to an 89.75-point ride on Big Black.

At the time of his premier series debut in 2020, Moreira, then 20 years old, was the third-youngest Brazilian ever to reach the premier series, and this past year, he took the next step in his development.

Moreira was the youngest rider to finish inside the Top 10 of the world standings this past season after going 30-for-89 (33%) with five 90-point rides, two 15/15 Bucking Battle victories and an event win in his first full season on the Unleash The Beast. Moreira finished inside the Top 5 at four of the final nine regular-season UTB events.

He also wasn’t too shabby at a highly competitive 2021 PBR World Finals, going 4-for-6, including a career-best 92.25 points on County Jail, for a sixth-place finish.

2022 Outlook: Moreira has already started his 2022 season with a 1-for-3 showing at the Navajo Nations Queen Creek PBR Touring Pro Division event at the end of November, and he has been preparing for the upcoming UTB season by training at nine-time PBR World Finals qualifier Fabiano Vieira’s ranch in Decatur, Texas.

Moreira will be one of the young riders on the Unleash The Beast who many expect to take the next step in his career when the season gets underway in Indianapolis.

A Top-10 finish is likely on the table for Moreira if the Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil, native improves upon his 33% riding average and wins more than two rounds on the premier series. Consistency has been lacking for Moreira, who rode only 20.5% of his bulls on the UTB in 2020, but his home run-hitting ability is no secret. If Moreira really improves, he could potentially enter the world title conversation as a dark horse contender.

The other caveat, though, is if the torn cartilage in Moreira’s right hip worsens during the five-month grind to the 2022 PBR World Finals. Moreira put off getting surgery this offseason, but he believes the injury will not be a significant hindrance during the upcoming season.

“Everything is good,” Moreira said. “I think the right word is, ‘Let’s ride!’ It is time to have fun and do what I love. I am looking forward to shocking the world this year. I have continued to ride bulls and have been practicing team roping at Fabiano’s ranch. I am learning more from that great cowboy.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media