(PBR release)
OKLAHOMA CITY – With a grin stretching ear-to-ear, Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) stood atop the shark cage as the top bull rider on Friday night in Oklahoma City after winning both the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) 15/15 Bucking Battle and Round 1 during the opening night of the Express Ranches Invitational at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
“I can’t believe it,” Jesus said. “I had some really good bulls tonight and it felt good to get both of them rode.”
Jesus’ OKC event began with an 88.25-point ride aboard Major Threat (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls). Then in the special round of competition at the end of the night, Jesus conquered the 9th ranked bull in the world standings, Cochise (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for a monster score of 91.50 points.
It’s the second time the two athletes have matched up with Jesus getting revenge from a 5.40 buck off by the big, brown bovine in Albuquerque in 2018.
Watch Jesus’s ride on Cochise here.
By earning 250 points on the night, Jesus soared up to No. 5 in the PBR world standings.
Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas Do Rio Pardo, Brazil) was the only other rider to record a ride in the 15/15 Bucking Battle with his own 90+ score. Leme earned 91.25 points on Frequent Flyer (D&H Cattle Co/Erwin Cattle Co.).
In the opening round of the event, Oklahoma’s own Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) finished in second place behind Jesus after riding Bulls Eye (Mears/Broken Arrow/Ownens) for 87.25 points.
World No. 1, Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) finished the round in third place with 86 points aboard Yatesy Down Under (Star E Ranch/Just Have Faith Ranch).
Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Spain) earned his 9th qualified ride in a row when he covered Sin City (Halpain/Harmon) for 82.50 points. He finished in fourth place in Round 1 and is currently No. 2 in the world standings.
Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) and Alex Marcilio (Macaubal, Brazil) were the only other two riders to earn qualified rides on the night. De Castro rode Viper (Cord McCoy/Big Sky Bulls, LLC) for 82 points to finish in 5th place while Marcilio covered Page 512 (Stanley & JoAnne Izard/Dennis Davis Bucking Bulls) for 68 points and 6th place.
Friday night in Oklahoma City also featured the American Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) 4-year-old Big Tex Classic event in conjunction with Round 1. An ABBI Classic competition is the next step in a young bovine’s competitive career and begins when the bull is three or four years of age. These bulls start and finish their Classic career under PBR riders.
Concealed Carry’s (Rockin R Bucking Bulls/Jerry Rush) 89.2-point performance took the top spot in the Classic competition for a $10,056.75 payday. Preachers Kid (K Bar C Bucking Bulls/RD Cattle) posted 88.8 points for second place and $6,451.50, while Right Stuff (Craig Smith/Vern Nix) and Bad Decisions (JQH Bucking Bulls) tied for third with 88 points and $4,269.38 apiece. Good Night Robicheaux (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Diamond W/Riley Samford) rounded out the Top 5 with 87.6 points while taking home $3,225.75.
Fans will be able to watch the 15/15 Bucking Battle on Saturday, Feb. 2 on CBS at 3:00 p.m. ET. Round 2 and the championship round will air on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Friday’s Round 1 will also be viewable Saturday starting at 8 a.m. ET on RidePass.com or via the RidePass mobile app.
Round 2 and the championship round will begin at 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Unleash The Beast Event Results
15/15 Bucking Battle
Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1. Cody Jesus, 91.5-91.50-150 Points.
2. Jose Vitor Leme, 91.25-91.25-90 Points.
Jess Lockwood, 0-0.00
João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0.00
Chase Outlaw, 0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0.00
Lucas Divino, 0-0.00
Alisson De Souza, 0-0.00
Danilo Carlos Sobrinho, 0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0.00
Ruger Piva, 0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0.00
Unleash The Beast Event Results
Express Ranches Invitational
Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Cody Jesus, 88.25-0-0-88.25-100 Points.
2. Ryan Dirteater, 87.25-0-0-87.25-60 Points.
3. Jess Lockwood, 86-0-0-86.00-50 Points.
4. João Ricardo Vieira, 82.5-0-0-82.50-40 Points.
5. Luciano De Castro, 82-0-0-82.00-30 Points.
6. Alex Marcilio, 68-0-0-68.00-15 Points.
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Outlaw, 0-0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
Lucas Divino, 0-0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza, 0-0-0-0.00
Danilo Carlos Sobrinho, 0-0-0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0.00
Ruger Piva, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Buttar, 0-0-0-0.00
Juan Carlos Contreras, 0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0.00
Emilio Resende, 0-0-0-0.00
Koal Livingston, 0-0-0-0.00
Sean Willingham, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0.00
Paulo Ferreira Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
J.B. Mauney, 0-0-0-0.00
Tanner Byrne, 0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0.00
Lonnie West, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Heffernan, 0-0-0-0.00
Lachlan Richardson, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Louis, 0-0-0-0.00
Esteban Bustamante Salcido, 0-0-0-0.00
