FORT WORTH, Texas – As Pool A got underway Thursday night in Fort Worth, Texas, for the 2022 Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF) World Finals at Cowtown Coliseum, six of the nation’s top freestyle bullfighters punched their ticket to the next round of competition by defeating their opponent in head-to-head showdowns.

Jacorey Golden (Houston, Mississippi), Sam Marical (Ada, Oklahoma), Roper Rich (Eaton, Colorado), Zek Smith (Folkston, Georgia), Justin Martin (Weatherford, Texas) and Knox Dunn (Slaughter, Louisiana) remain in the hunt for the coveted 2022 UBF World Championship and will return to the arena Sunday, Dec. 4 as they look take another step forward in their quest for the title.

In freestyle bullfighting, a bullfighter competes for 60 seconds against a fighting bull predominantly of Spanish descent in an effort to score points for maneuvers performed during the one-minute competition. Unlike traditional bullfighting, the animals are not harmed. Bullfighters are judged solely on their ability to perform gravity-defying acrobatic stunts as close to the bull as possible without getting hit.

The first head-to-head showdown pitted Golden against Westlee Jones (Payson, Utah). Edging Jones by one point, 75.5-74.5, Golden was the first to advance at the 2022 UBF World Finals as the crowd burst into celebration.

Marcial knocked out Colton Orcutt (Kersey, Colorado) in commanding fashion. After Orcutt was awarded 75.5 points in his fight, Marcial surpassed him by nearly 10 points, marked 82.5 points.

The evening’s intensity ratcheted up in the third showdown between Jake England (Como, Mississippi) and Rich. Jumping his bull not once, but twice, an incredible feat of acrobatics which stunned the crowd, Rich eliminated England, 79-63.5.

Involved in a gnarly wreck with his bull, which resulted in no score, Trenton Ross (Jackson, Wyoming) failed to advance when Smith was awarded 79.5 points.

The fifth showdown of the night was arguably the most intense as Martin and Brock Bowman (Barnsdall, Oklahoma) took to the arena. After both athletes were awarded 85 points, the tie-break was determined by each’s fighter score. Compliments of his smooth reverses, Martin outscored Bowman 43.5-43, punching his ticket to the Dec. 4 round of competition.

Reigning World Champion Dunn headlined the final matchup of the night, taking on Johnny Sagars (Harrison, Arkansas). Having competed sparingly since breaking his kneecap during the May event held in tandem with the PBR World Finals, Knox was in his title-contending form, scored 83 points and advancing over Sagars who earned just 77 points.

The 2022 UBF World Finals continue Friday, Dec. 2 at 2:00 p.m. CT when Pool B will take to the dirt.

The roster of bullfighters set to compete in Pool B is:

Pool B:

Chance Moorman (Lytle, TX)

Dekevis Jordan (Madill, OK)

Dylan Idleman (Madill, OK)

Tucker Lane (Oak Grove, MO)

Colby Lindsey (Calvert City, KY)

Noah Krepps (Jasper, AR)

Wagner Miqueline (Zacarias, Brazil)

Clay Moore (Belen, NM)

Greg Howard (Dozier, AL)

Connor Quezada (Fruita, CO

Ryan Fizer (Comanche, TX)

Cache Dunn (Waurika, OK)

Tickets for the 2022 UBF World Finals are still available and can be purchased at CowtownColiseum.com and PBR.com, or through PBR Customer Service by phone at 1-800-732-1727.

For more information about how to attend the 2022 UBF World Finals at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 1-10, visit PBR.com.

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media