Friday night — Round No. 1

Takeaway No. 3

Precision, not power, set the standard in Chicago

PBR’s newly implemented scoring system was designed to allow judges greater flexibility and to create clearer separation among performances.

Instead, Round 1 revealed just how evenly matched the competition truly was.

Despite the intent to spread the field, the opening go-round resulted in a three-way tie for first place among Julio Cesar Marques, Cleber Henrique Marques and Joao Lucas Campos. Bulls and riders were aligned nearly stride for stride, leaving little room for differentiation.

Fast forward to the event’s end to further illustrate this parity: Leaving Chicago, only 12 points separate the top five riders. Dalton Kasel, the world No. 1 with 136 points, holds a six-point advantage over Marco Rizzo. Paulo Eduardo Rossetto and Kaiden Loud sit 10 points back, while Julio Cesar Marques in fifth trails Kasel by 12.

The message is unmistakable. Early-season success is not dictated by reputation or aggression, but by precision. Chicago rewarded control, timing and balance — elements that will continue to define the season moving forward.

Takeaway No. 2

When opportunity knocked, execution answered

Friday night also showcased the importance of capitalizing when the moment presents itself.

Cleber Henrique Marques did exactly that.

Marques delivered an 86.30-point ride on Hector, earning a share of the Round 1 victory — his first career round win — and immediately placing himself into the spotlight. For many inside the arena, it marked their first extended look at Marques on this stage.

At this level, opportunities are earned — not given.

Takeaway No. 1

In a season built on consistency, resilience is non-negotiable

The most telling storyline of the night belonged to a rider forced to respond to adversity.

Dalton Kasel, fresh off a victory in the season opener in Manchester, New Hampshire, lost his bull rope on Muss Bus early and was unable to record a qualified ride in the opening round. Chicago offered no margin for error, and momentum provided no protection.

With only 12 qualified rides in Round 1, Kasel remained within reach of the cut line heading toward Saturday’s championship round.

Resilience wasn’t optional — it was required.

Round 1 results — Friday night

Three-way tie — Round 1
Julio Cesar Marques — 86.30
Cleber Henrique Marques — 86.30
Joao Lucas Campos — 86.30

Championship Saturday — Night No. 2

If Friday night established the standard, championship Saturday demanded confirmation. The field tightened. The margin for error shrank. And the consequences became unavoidable.

Takeaway No. 3

In this sport, it’s not if you get hurt — it’s when and how bad

Chicago reminded everyone that if you’re going to play a man’s-size sport, sometimes you have to pay a man’s-size price.

Callum Miller recorded an 84.20-point ride aboard Designated Survivor before colliding head-to-head with the bull on the dismount and remaining motionless on the dirt. After he was backboarded out, Kate Harrison reported on the Paramount+ broadcast that Miller was sitting up, alert and talking to Dr. Tandy Freeman.

Only a few rides later, Macate Trammell, the winner of The Last Cowboy Standing carried on FOX Nation, was knocked unconscious during his out. Later, Clay Guiton exited the arena with an apparent shoulder injury.

This was only Stop No. 2 of the season — and the timing of the holiday break could not be more necessary before PBR storms into TD Garden for its Boston debut Jan. 2–3.

Takeaway No. 2

Points are the currency — and Bob Mitchell cashed in

Bob Mitchell, the 2022 PBR Rookie of the Year, delivered the Round 2 win with an 86.70-point ride on Blown Away, earning 28 critical world standings points and securing his place in the championship round.

Across two nights, the world’s best riders and rankest bulls produced 23 total qualified rides — a testament to both rider depth and bull power.

Takeaway No. 1

When the best meet the best, greatness reveals itself

In the championship round, with the second pick, Marco Rizzo selected Man Hater, the two-time and defending PBR World Champion Bucking Bull (2024–25).

Rizzo covered Man Hater for 90.25 points — the highest-marked ride of his career. The ebullient 20-year-old won the championship round and claimed the first event victory of his professional career.

Top three — Chicago aggregate
Marco Rizzo — 259.50 (3-for-3)
Eduardo “Fast Eddie” Aparecido — 259.25 (3-for-3)
Leandro Zampollo — 255.70 (3-for-3)

Full results — Chicago

Didn’t see your favorite bull rider crack the top three in Chicago and want to see how they fared across the weekend?

Complete event results from Stop No. 2 at the United Center are available HERE, including every round, every qualified ride, bull scores and the full competitive breakdown from both performances. Whether you’re tracking a specific rider or revisiting how the event unfolded, the full results provide a comprehensive look at one of the season’s earliest measuring sticks. 

Unleash The Beast PBR World Standings

After two events — Manchester & Chicago

With the first two stops of the season complete, the early championship picture is beginning to take shape.

Below are the official Unleash The Beast World Standings following Manchester and Chicago, heading into the new year and before the 2026 season resumes in Boston on Jan. 2–3, marking the Unleash The Beast Series’ debut in the historic market. Click HERE to take a look.

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Thank you to everyone who continues to support this work and take the time to read these articles. Your encouragement, engagement and passion for the sport do not go unnoticed.

From all of us at the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your holiday season last all year long, and may the year ahead bring nothing but joy, peace and happiness to you and your loved ones. God bless.

Beyond the dirt

Have you or someone you love experienced a life-changing event — such as a car accident, stroke or heart attack — that altered your mobility? We understand how profoundly that can change your life. But physical challenges — whether from birth or sudden injury — should never mean sitting on the sidelines.

The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation is proud to offer the Action Trackchair, a revolutionary mobility device designed to take individuals with physical impairments beyond the limits of traditional wheelchairs. While most power chairs are confined to indoor spaces, the outdoors should be accessible to everyone. Nature, freedom and adventure belong to all of us.

While many nonprofits serve wounded veterans, we are the only organization dedicated to providing Action Trackchairs to everyday civilians — people whose lives were changed by injury or illness, not service. Whether discovering independence for the first time or returning to the activities you love, the Action Trackchair opens the door to the outdoors again.

Our mission is simple: bridge the mobility gap. Too many people are forced to watch life pass by, unable to hike, fish or hunt as they once did. Life is a gift, and everyone deserves the chance to fully experience it.

Action Trackchairs are available in multiple models, including children’s sizes, but the cost puts them out of reach for many. That’s why we exist — to provide Action Trackchairs in Oklahoma and Arkansas to those who need them most and cannot afford them.

Life is too precious to watch from the window. With the right tools, freedom and adventure are possible again.

Learn more or help change a life at www.moafoundation.org.