FORT WORTH, Texas – After taking nearly four months to earn the first Unleash The Beast event title of his career back in 2024, victorious in Jacksonville, Florida, in late February (not far from where his Florida Freedom are based out of), John Crimber didn’t waste any time reminding the circuit just how excited he was for his second trip around the circuit.

Needing … *checks notes* … just one night of warm-up action this time around as PBR Tucson invaded the southwest Nov. 15-16 for the tour’s season-opener last weekend, Crimber closed out the first premier series showdown of the year with a rank 92.5-pointer dancing with Ricky Vaughn en route to storming the winner’s circle for the second time in his surging career.  

RELATED: By the Numbers: John Crimber starts 2025 slate with win No. 1 in Tucson

The only man to go 3-for-3 on the weekend, he couldn’t have dreamed up a bigger “welcome back” showcase for himself and fans alike between his trio of quality conversions and ability to ignite Week 1’s rowdy crowds. 

Coming up just short of the ultimate prize during his rookie season, it’s obvious he’s returned to the chutes with a bit of vengeance. Having spent some time over the summer and fall slate becoming good friends with and learning from the only man to out-perform him in 2024, Cassio Dias, it seems the time has been well spent for Crimber.

However for Dias, who began his 2025 season with an 88.25-point qualified ride aboard Washita Red, the Brazilian is going to have plenty of time scouting bulls for this summer’s fourth season of PBR Camping World Team Series action after suffering quite the nasty wreck following the conversion. 

Picking up a likely season-ending lower-body injury, Dias was rushed to emergency surgery back in Tucson. Thankfully for Dias, his family, the Kansas City Outlaws and bull riding fans around the world, the talented Brazilian is slated to make a full recovery, albeit not likely to return to UTB competition in 2025.

RELATED: Cassio Dias suffers broken femur in Tucson

A sentiment that may have put a damper on the rest of the weekend to a certain extent. But when Saturday rolled around, the boys got back to business – and plenty of rank rides were captured.

Guys like Dalton Kasel and Koltin Hevalow stepped up, punching their early-season resumes with matching podium finishes, while cowboys like Kaiden Loud and Elizmar Jeremias collected round wins with dazzling 90-pointers.

The stars were out and it was BRIGHT! 

Knowing nine riders managed 2-for-3 efforts in Tucson, with 37 conversions marked throughout the 92-out weekend (42.22%), means the boys were putting scores up early and often in Week 1. 

RELATED: What to Watch For: Determined Dalton Kasel keeping eyes on the prize despite hot start

Which leads us to Week 2’s spectacle in Ontario, California, where 40 riders will put the inaugural edition of competition in the rearview and quickly zoom in on this weekend’s set of challenges. 

2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco is the only rider in this weekend’s draw who’s captured an event win in Ontario before, with the only two-time PBR Teams Champion earning a big win during a 2015 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour showdown nearly 10 years ago. 

Whether or not that gives him any sort of leg-up remains to be determined. Seeing him team up with Snap Chatter last weekend for a welcome 86.5 points certainly provides the veteran some momentum despite not qualifying for the short round in Week 1. 

One of Pacheco’s summer series partners and fellow World Champions in Jose Vitor Leme will look to bounce back in Ontario after posting an uncharacteristic 0-for-2 effort in Tucson. 

After seeing the two-time PBR Teams MVP look very much the part throughout his third season of PBR Teams fun, we didn’t expect the zero from Leme and definitely don’t expect the slow start to continue here in Week 2. Slated to dance with I’m Him, can the two-time World Champion begin his run to complete the trio feat this weekend?

Speaking of Austin Gamblers’ riders from the 2024 PBR Teams Championship-capturing squad, Lucas Divino gets a chance to improve to a perfect 2-for-2 atop Joe Hawk Saturday night after besting the bovine for 82 points last weekend in Tucson. 

With the tour reverting back to its worldwide approach of recognizing efforts around the globe, international riders, alongside cowboys competing in Touring Pro Division and Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour, now able to earn UTB Global points for their time spent in tours other than the premier series. Which will only ensure the 45 best bull riders in the WORLD will assemble this May in Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas, to duke it out for the ultimate honors. 

Dias and JaCauy Hale (who declined the invite as an alternate) represent the two changes from the opening go’s lineups, so fans will get to see Keyshawn Whitehorse (who doctored out of the season-opener) and Luciano De Castro (who used an excused absence) make their respective 2025 UTB debuts. 

Coming off a rare down season with their Arizona Ridge Riders squad, the pair of veterans have been known to pack a punch when healthy and motivated. And if we know these two, those boxes are checked and then some as they await their opportunity to get on the big board.

2025 PBR Unleash The Beast Global Standings: 
1. John Crimber (182 points)
2. Dalton Kasel (84 points)
3. Koltin Hevalow (83.63 points)
4. Nick Tetz (48.5 points)
5. Mason Taylor (39 points)
5. Eduardo Aparecido (39 points)
7. Dener Barbosa (37 points)
8. Kaiden Loud (30 points) 
9. Elizmar Jeremias (29 points) 
10. Claudio Montanha Jr. (28.5 points)

Lineups and draw are in for the second of 23 regular season Unleash The Beast showdowns, so we’re taking a closer look at Saturday night’s matchups, rematches and everything you need to know ahead of the weekend’s opening slate of games!

With the premier series circuit set to invade Ontario, California, Nov. 23-24, we’re breaking down starting lineups for Saturday night’s competition inside Toyota Arena (With coverage set to begin at 7 p.m. PST via Ride Pass on Pluto TV).

PBR ONTARIO STARTING LINEUPS 
Clay Guiton vs. Black Harbor 
Julio Cesar Marques vs. Underdog 
Alan de Souza vs. Gaucho 
Heitor Santos Ferreira vs. Down to Fly 
Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Cellophane 
Boudreaux Campbell vs. Crash Dummy 
Alex Cerqueira vs. Tricked Out 
Rogerio Venancio vs. Lock ‘n Load 
Sandro Batista vs. Sharp Shooter 
Dustin Martinez vs. Little Tex 
Cort McFadden vs. El Sicaro 
*Lucas Divino vs. Joe Hawk 
Kaique Pacheco vs. Bad Bad Bull 
Thiago Salgado vs. Yahoo 
Andrew Alvidrez vs. No Man’s Land 
Adriano Salgado vs. Cooties 
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. That’ll Play 
Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Problem Child 
Austin Richardson vs. Dirty Dog 
Derek Kolbaba vs. Buster Moon 
Anderson de Oliveira vs. Kwik Lock 
Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Southern Hospitality 
Jose Vitor Leme vs. I’m Him 
Leonardo Castro vs. VB Smooth 
Paulo Henrique da Silva vs. Commissioner 
Marco Rizzo vs. Crossover 
Mauricio Gulla Moreira vs. Willie 
Luciano De Castro vs. Snoop Dog 
Daylon Swearingen vs. War Train 
Dawson Branton vs. In My Blood 
Claudio Montanha Jr. vs. Clyde 
Dener Barbosa vs. Warlock 
Elizmar Jeremias vs. Cowboy Tuxedo 
Kaiden Loud vs. Flirt Alert 
Mason Taylor vs. Sullivan 
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Icky Thump 
Marcelo Procopio Pereira vs. Erik The Red
Koltin Hevalow vs. Whack Attack 
Dalton Kasel vs. Coach 
John Crimber vs. Cyrus
*Denotes Rematch

REMATCHES
Lucas Divino vs. Joe Hawk (82 points in Tucson, Arizona)

OUT DUE TO INJURY/OTHER
Casio Dias (injury)
Nick Tetz (illness)
Brady Fielder (excused)
Eduardo Matos (excused)
Daniel Keeping (excused)
Cody Jesus (excused)
Luciano De Castro (excused)
Wingson Henrique da Silva (injury)
Vitor Losnake (injury)
Kyler Oliver (injury)
Ramon de Lima (declined)
Felipe Furlan (declined)
JaCauy Hale (declined)

FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend’s PBR Tucson showcase in Ontario, California, is set to begin Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6:45 p.m. PST as the best bull riders in the world prepare to compete in the second of 23 regular season events inside Toyota Arena.

With competition set to conclude Sunday, Nov. 24 at 11:45 a.m. PST with Round 2, followed by the Championship go, the quest to earn the 2025 PBR World Championship continues out west!

RELATED: Where to Watch: Ontario

Tune-in information for this weekend’s PBR Ontario showcase can be found here.

Fans can keep an eye on PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for the latest news, scores, wrecks and more! 

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media