By the Numbers: Brady Fielder exits spicy stretch with second win, No. 1 rank
Australian caps 11-for-13 January slate Saturday in Pittsburgh with third career victory.
By James Youness
FORT WORTH, Texas – Four weeks of competition have occupied the first month of 2025 Unleash The Beast action as the best bull riders in the world continue to put on a show.
However, when you consider just two men combined to win all four of those events, it’s hard not to zoom in a bit on said talents.
And while 31-year-old Lucas Divino may have started the spicy stretch, claiming event titles during the tour’s first and third stops of the month, it’s been new top dawg Brady Fielder who’s won the second and fourth January-hosted showdowns as he continues to excel in a BIG way.
Originally picking up his first win of the season and second to his name a few weeks back in Chicago, Illinois, the Australian rider understood he has what it takes to show up and show out in major league fashion …
… And reminded the premier series pack of that same sentiment after marching into PPG Paints Arena and exiting with his second buckle in just three weekends.
Which means the last time a man not named Brady Fielder or Lucas Divino last won a premier series title came in late December, more than a month ago, as the Texas Rattlers and Austin Gamblers professionals combined to sweep the January slate.
But it’s Fielder we primarily came to celebrate this week, as the lanky cowboy parlayed his second win into the No. 1 rank, now a grand 102.5 points ahead of No. 2 John Crimber, who’s nursing an injury he sustained during a wreck in Houston, Texas.
Officially 11-for-13 (84.6%) during UTB competition throughout January alone, he’s recorded more qualified rides this month than No. 4 Dalton Kasel has all season, who’s just 9-for-21 as he continues to heal up, himself.
Hell, there are only eight other riders on tour with 11+ qualified rides to their names, which have been earned anywhere from mid-November up until last weekend’s U.S. Border Patrol PBR Pittsburgh, presented by Ariat.
THAT’S how dominant the 25-year-old has been lately.
And for as cool as surpassing Crimber for the top rank is, the craziest part of Fielder’s ever-improving resume revolves around his insane consistency.
Claiming the No. 1 rank as the tour’s most efficient rider, now leading the circuit with the most qualified rides (17-for-23) AND highest ride percentage (73.91%), his persistent approach, and ensuing results, shouldn’t be much of a surprise given he captured the summer session’s first-ever Great 8 Award for having the highest ride percentage during the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series.
Rocking a nine-out ride streak heading into this weekend’s showcase in Sacramento, California, courtesy of his three-consecutive 3-for-3 efforts, Fielder was one of just two cowboys to stay perfect in Pittsburgh, flanked by Felipe Furlan, who came up just half a point (.5) in the event’s aggregate.
Fielder only seems to be warming up here while the successful stretch continues to play itself out, as his 90.75-point dance with UTZ BesTex Smokestack represents both his highest-marked ride of the season and first 90-pointer in 2025.
A great sign for the Australian and fans of the Texas Rattlers.
But not such a good sign for any of the tour’s 40-some other riders – Or supporters of the camaraderie-driven league’s other nine units!
Generally speaking, he’s been flying under the radar for the most part over the past few years.
And by that we mean producing solid rides but rarely piecing things together in the same weekend, thus bringing just one event title into the 2025 campaign despite competing in UTB since 2019.
However, he is the radar these days – Now the top-ranked rider in the business.
After producing a career-best No. 8 placement to close out the 2024 season, he’s not looking to simply beat that rank. He’s looking to claim the 2025 PBR World Championship inside AT&T Stadium this May.
And he’s very much on pace to do so if he can continue besting three-fourths of his bovine opponents.
Already 10 events into the 2025 campaign, PBR.com is back with another edition of By the Numbers as we take a closer look at Brady Fielder’s second win in three weeks, another electric Monster Energy Team Challenge showdown and tons of other outlying numerals from last weekend’s showcase in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!
Round Win No. 3: Originally besting Money Moves for a savvy 86.5 points during Round 1, Fielder didn’t break the bank by any means. But he advanced his ride streak to seven-straight while positioning himself to make a run on a night which was highlighted by METC antics. Returning to PPG Paints Arena Saturday evening wanting more, the Australian exited his head-to-head showdown aboard Chuck with a quality 85 points as he improved to 2-for-2 on the weekend. However, it was his genius selection to attempt a dance with UTZ BesTex Smokestack that paid the largest dividends, thrusting Fielder into the winner’s circle for the second time in three weekends.
And while the rank score served as both the event's top mark and Fielder’s best score of 2025, the conversion propelled him to his third round win of the season during Saturday’s short round, tying him with two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme and Keyshawn Whitehorse on the year. Said duo trails only John Crimber and Dalton Kasel, who have each captured four session-topping efforts, which is good company for Fielder to be surrounded by as he continues to make a push for what would be his career-first gold buckle.
90.25: The best way to take advantage of some time allotted on the top tour? Turning in Top 3 performances and ripping of rank rides like it’s your job! Exactly what Felipe Furlan did last weekend after spending most of his 2025 season competing within Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour action. Representing the Brazilian’s best UTB finish to date, Furlan joined Fielder as the only other man to produce a 3-for-3 performance in Pittsburgh. Eventually coming up just short of Fielder for what would’ve been a career-first title, the 23-year-old can’t be upset about his check inked for $27,075 or the 93 UTB points he earned.
His 84.25 and 87.25-point conversions earlier in the weekend provided a solid foundation for the youngster to build on. But it was 100% his 90.25-point dance with Lights Out, one of two 90s recorded on the weekend and the kid’s first logged within UTB competition, which served as the biggest takeaway. We’ve seen Furlan flash in PBR Teams action before, but could this be the beginning of his 2025 resurgence? With a No. 25 finish from the 2024 season a flash on its own, he’ll look to continue building on his productive showcase this weekend in Sacramento, California.
87’s Wild: After storming into the premier series during a rookie-fueled 2024 campaign, Clay Guiton hasn’t been lighting the place on fire in 2025 as he battles injuries and the most talented bovine athletes on the planet. But after seeing the red-headed talent ride his way into his first podium appearance of the season, things are beginning to trend in a positive direction for the Oklahoma Wildcatters standout. On a weekend where seven other riders turned in two-ride efforts, it was Guiton’s 174-point aggregate which ultimately earned him the honors, as the 19-year-old talent recorded matching 87-point rides en route to securing his best finish of the season.
Also tying his career-best UTB finish, matching his third-place efforts last season in Houston, Texas, Guiton collected a much-needed 65 UTB points en route to grinding his way back up to the No. 21 spot. Of the nine events he’s participated in this season, the youngster has managed at least one qualified ride in seven of them. Paired with consecutive No. 6 and No. 10 placements earlier this year in St. Louis, Missouri, and Wichita, Kansas, his third-place effort in Pittsburgh represents his third Top 10 feat of the season. Bringing a 9-for-22 record into Golden 1 Center this weekend, he’ll look to continue chasing down his good buddy John Crimber while attempting to position himself for a shot inside AT&T Stadium during the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast.
Back 2 Back: He might only be ranked No. 9 on the big board but it sure seems like Keyshawn Whitehorse has been operating in the spotlight lately. Maybe it’s fashion-forward wardrobe or additional facial hair he's sporting this winter. Maybe it’s his swag and a little extra motivation competing with his METC teammates. Maybe he’s just one of the best on circuit right now. Perhaps a combination of it all!
Eventually settling for a No. 11 finish in Pittsburgh with the highest one-ride score on the board after winning the opening round Friday night, the Arizona Ridge Riders’ ace has now successfully captured each of the tour’s past two Round 1 honors as the McCracken Spring, Utah, native has been showing up on the scoreboard early and often lately. Joining Fielder and Leme with three round wins on the season, he remains locked into the No. 9 rank with just 100 days separating him from a trip to Jerry World, home of the Dallas Cowboys, Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo and the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast!
3.5: Edging out Clay Guiton and the Oklahoma Wildcatters by a mere 3.5 points Friday night during the spiciest Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World showdowns to date, the Arizona Ridge Riders improved to 1-0 on the season during the unique 6 vs. 6 series thanks to an ever-dramatic walk-off ride. Claiming the 258-254.5 decision, the showcase represented the most recent close call between the rivalrous squads after seeing the two units separated by a combined 13.75 points across their four matchups in 2024 (averaging just a 3.4-point contest deficit last summer). And it’s honestly a bit creepy that Arizona, once again, won by 3.5 points Friday, despite the Wildcatters rocking some groovy new uniforms.
It was ALLLL Oklahoma early, too, as Guiton paired his 87-pointer atop Bad Intentions during the showcase’s opening attempt with teammate Guilherme Valleiras’ 87.5-pointer aboard Big Red Train. But it was an unexpected contribution from first-timer Everton Natan da Silva which ultimately turned the tides for Arizona, as the rookie stepped into his first-ever UTB out and made the buzzer, earning a much-needed 85.25 points while drumming up some momentum for the Ridge Riders. And while Dustin Herman responded by recording an 80-pointer (during his own UTB debut, thus joining Silva in advancing his premier series record to 1-for-1) to give Oklahoma a 3-for-4 start, collectively, as they sat tall atop the leaderboard, destiny would lend itself to their opponents. Their veteran-heavy opposition.
Seeing veteran Luciano De Castro chip in a welcome 83-pointer dancing with Ram Rod the drama intensified as another tight tale was forming in real time. Naturally, turning to none other than Keyshawn Whitehorse during the final out of the night, Head Coach Colby Yates and company knew they had the opportunity to close out the battle, and round, with a bang. Exactly what the veteran did, as he soared to a session-best 89.75 points en route to claiming the head-to-head showdown and securing the Round 1 honors.
We’re not saying to check the receipts every weekend. But we did suggest keeping an eye out for Whitehorse and Castro in Week 10’s What to Watch For! With two remaining duels between Arizona and Oklahoma, set to take over the final 12 outs in Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 7 and Palm Desert, California, March 21, it’s safe to say the Southwest Showdown will be alive and well later this spring! Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
