Tampa is a city that understands intensity. From the grit of cigar factories in Ybor City to the roar of football Sundays on the Gulf Coast, this is a place built on tradition, toughness, and spectacle. This weekend, Tampa adds another chapter to that legacy as it plays host to the toughest sport on Earth.
The PBR Unleash The Beast Series rolls into Florida for Stop No. 6 of the regular season, bringing the world’s best bull riders to a place that appreciates elite competition. As the championship race tightens, every ride, every point, and every dollar matters more than ever.
EVENT INFORMATION
Jan. 23–24
PBR Tampa
Tampa, FL — Benchmark International Arena
• Friday: 7:45 PM ET
• Saturday: 7:45 PM ET
Click HERE for ticket information.
For fans who can’t attend in person but don’t want to miss a second of the action, the event will be available live and on demand via Paramount+.
Broadcast schedule & how to watch click HERE.
POINTS & MONEY ON THE LINE — TAMPA
With the season still in its early stages, Tampa represents a critical opportunity to separate contenders from the pack. Points earned here count fully toward the PBR World Championship standings, and with an event payout of $130,000, the financial stakes remain significant.
MONSTER ENERGY TEAM CHALLENGE
While Tampa is a regular-season Unleash The Beast stop, Friday night also features the Monster Energy Team Challenge, a preseason-style showcase that mirrors the PBR Teams format while still operating under regular-season competition standards.
For JaCauy Hale (Oklahoma Wildcatters), Elizmar Jeremias (Florida Freedom) and Braidy Randolph (Texas Rattlers) who are competing on team invites, the margin for error is nonexistent. A qualified ride Friday night is mandatory for each to advance into Championship Saturday’s second round. Failure to convert means packing their bags and heading home.
These riders are competing for both individual points and roster relevance and opportunity as the PBR Teams official regular season approaches.
Qualified ride scores during the Monster Energy Team Challenge still count toward individual world standings, meaning riders can gain title-chase momentum that carries well beyond Tampa.
KEY MATCHUPS TO WATCH — FRIDAY NIGHT
Friday night in Tampa delivers a slate of matchups that carry weight beyond the opening round. Several of the sport’s biggest names draw bulls that could either stabilize their seasons or amplify early struggles.
Clay Guiton vs. Yo Mama
Guiton draws Yo Mama, a matchup that sets up the Carolina Cowboy favorably on paper. Guiton’s timing and balance fit this bull well, and this ride projects into the high-87 range, with upside depending on how the bull feels that night. Early go-round points are there for the taking.
José Vitor Leme vs. Paleface
Leme enters Tampa in unfamiliar territory. After one of the slowest starts of his premier-series career, the Austin Gamblers’ two-time Teams MVP currently sits 42nd in the world standings with 17 points. Drawn against Paleface, this matchup offers a chance to reset. Leme remains capable of winning any go-round when he makes the whistle, and Tampa could mark the beginning of a turnaround.
Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Show Biz
Earlier this season, Leme’s teammate Kimzey delivered a statement performance in New York at Madison Square Garden, winning the Buck Off at the Garden. He now gets the call on Show Biz in Tampa.
Expectations remain high for a rider of his caliber, and this matchup offers an opportunity to build momentum as the season progresses. Kimzey’s ability to rise in key moments has defined his career, and this ride will test that consistency early.
Dalton Kasel vs. Nightmare
Kasel, yet another superstar on the Gamblers, has already won two regular-season events through the first five stops, putting him two points off the UTB lead. The challenge has been consistency in between. Matched up with Nightmare, Kasel faces a critical out that could either reinforce his position near the top of the standings or continue the feast-or-famine trend that has defined his early season.
John Crimber vs. Risky Business
Crimber appears to be finding his rhythm as the tour reaches Florida, home turf for the Florida Freedom’s closer. Crimber’s matchup against Risky Business offers an opportunity to build confidence and momentum. While the season hasn’t unfolded exactly as planned, Tampa could be the place where things begin to click.
Julio Cesar Marques vs. Nasubi
World No. 1 Marques, the runner up to Kimzey in New York, enters Tampa with the target firmly on his back. Matched up with Nasubi, this is a reminder of how thin the margins are at the elite level. With the right bull, any rider in this tier can be 90 on any night—and Marques has proven he knows how to deliver when it matters.
BEYOND THE DIRT
These athletes do incredible things on the dirt, but their impact off the dirt is even greater. The PBR has proudly supported the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation since its beginning.
The foundation provides Action Trackchairs—all-terrain mobility devices—to people in Oklahoma and Arkansas who have faced life-changing events and can’t afford the equipment. Unlike regular wheelchairs, these chairs allow users to enjoy the outdoors again.
Our mission is simple: no one should be left behind. To help someone regain their freedom, visit www.moafoundation.org.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media