FORT WORTH, Texas – As the must-win, second-chance bracket for the 2022 Ultimate Bullfighting (UBF) World Finals got underway Thursday evening in Fort Worth, Texas, six of the world’s best freestyle bullfighters delivered gritty performances on the dirt inside Cowtown Coliseum to remain in the marathon seven-day tournament and keep their hopes alive of being crowned the 2022 UBF World Champion.
Brock Bowman (Barnsdall, Oklahoma), Clay Moore (Belen, New Mexico), Cy Ferguson (Boyd, Texas), Cache Dunn (Waurika, Oklahoma), Ryan Fizer (Comanche, Texas) and Wagner Miqueline (Zacarias, Brazil) all converted when it mattered most, outscoring their opponents in head-to-head showdowns to punch their tickets to the next round of competition.
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 evening’s event began with a matchup between Bowman and Trenton Ross (Jackson, Wyoming). While Ross delivered a fundamental bullfight, marked 82.5 points, Ross emerged supreme, scored 85.5 points despite a collision with the center gate as he maneuvered his rank animal athlete counterpart.
Moore and Greg Howard (Dozier, Alabama) then battled it out for the second spot in the subsequent round of competition. Beating the rookie by nearly 10 points, 89-81.5, Moore displayed solid fakes and rounds as he worked Chad Ellison’s standout Tumble Weed until the whistle.
A fellow rookie, Ferguson established himself as a contender to watch, thrashing veteran Jake England (Como, Mississippi) 88.5-78.5. Ferguson remained poised in the arena as he took on renowned fighting bull Black Honey, while England was driven to the fence numerous times.
With just three spots remaining, Dunn went to work, outscoring Westlee Jones (Payson, Utah) 79.5-75 to continue on in the 2022 UBF World Finals. Dunn delivered a textbook effort against one of Flat Line Fighting Bulls’ best, however, Jones was no match for his draw, bested at every turn.
In one of the most exhilarating showdowns of the evening, rookie Fizer began a potential Cinderella run to the 2022 UBF World Championship, knocking out world No. 4 Colton Orcutt (Kersey, Colorado) 87-83.5.
As the lone Brazilian competing in the tournament, Miqueline shone for the South American nation. The 39-year-old showed up and showed out, besting 18-year-old Johnny Sagars (Harrison, Arkansas) 86-81.5.
The 2022 UBF World Finals continue Friday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m. CT with the second round of the second chance bracket, when six bullfighters will advance to the championship round of the seven-day event, which will crown the 2022 UBF World Champion.
Eager to keep their title hopes alive, Bowman, Moore, Ferguson, Dunn, Fizer and Miqueline will be joined by Zek Smith (Folkston, Georgia), Jacorey Golden (Houston, Mississippi), Roper Rich (Eaton, Colorado), reigning World Champion Knox Dunn (Slaughter, Louisiana), Dekevis Jordan (Madill, Oklahoma) and Noah Krepps (Jasper, Arkansas) who were beaten on Dec. 3 when the Pool A and Pool B winners went head-to-head.
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
