Souza Wins 15/15 Bucking Battle in Glendale

By: Mandi McCary
January 20, 2019

GLENDALE, Ariz. – In front of a near capacity crowd at the Gila River Arena on Saturday night, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil) won his first 15/15 Bucking Battle of the 2019 season at The PBR Unleash The Beast, Ak-Chin Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires.

Souza, rode Medicine Man (Wallgren & Hale Bull Co.) in the special round for 89.75 points. For his effort, he gained 150 world points and a $7,000 paycheck.

In a twist of family fate Souza’s twin brother won his first-career PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event on Saturday night. Alan de Souza went a flawless 2-for-2 to win the Carolina Classic inside Colonial Life Arena.The only rider to cover both of his draws Saturday evening, Souza began just his third event on American soil with an 84.5-point trip on Podunk (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls). He sealed the win with a championship round-winning, 87-point ride aboard Pneu-Dart’s Coal Miner (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls).

Brennon Eldred (Sulphur, Oklahoma) collected $5,000 and 90 world points for his second-place finish in Glendale’s 15/15 Bucking Battle. His 89.5-point ride aboard Frequent Flyer (D&H Cattle/Erwin Cattle) was much needed after his buckoff in the evening’s earlier Round 1.

Canadian cowboy Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada) brought the heat as he rode Wicked Hou (Wallgren & Hale Bull Co/Randy Wood) to capture third place. The 88.25-point ride earned him 75 world points and $4,000.

Arizona native Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) did not disappoint his home state crowd as he turned in an impressive 87.75-point ride atop M.A.G.A (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co) during the 15/15. His fourth-place finish earned him $3,000 and 75 world points.

The young man that sits far atop the world standings leader board, 2017 World Champion Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) had fans roaring as he rounded out the Top 5 in the special round. After a race against the clock, Lockwood was able to make the 8 aboard Sosa’s Alley Cat (JD Nix/Sosa Buckers) for 87 points. For his efforts he collected 45 world points and a paycheck for $2,000.

Prior to the 15/15 Bucking Battle, the event began with Round 1 of the PBR Unleash The Beast’s Ak-Chin Invitational.

Earlier in the evening, Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) delivered a round-winning 88-point ride aboard Kern River (Hart Cattle Co.). For the win in the weekend’s first round, he gained 100 world points and a $3,580 paycheck.

Oklahoma cowboy Colten Jesse (Konowa, Oklahoma) finished in second-place during the Round 1 action aboard Uncle G (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) for 87 points. Jesse collected 60 world points and a $2,750 paycheck.

In a three-way tie for third place, Lucas Divino (NovaCrixa Goias, Brazil), Koal Livingston (Burleson, Texas) and veteran Brazilian rider Rubens Barbosa (Iaciara Goias, Brazil) recorded matching 86.5-point rides.

Barbosa led the trio when he made the 8 aboard Firewater (D&H Cattle Co), while Livingston brought the energetic crowd to its feet as he conquered Kmag YoYo (JD Nix Rodeo Co.). As one of the last 10 riders to fire out of the chutes in Round 1, Divino rode Cowboy’s Red River (JD Nix Rodeo Co).

The three riders each collected 40 world points and $1,383.33 for their efforts.

The world’s best bull riders will return to Gila River Arena on Sunday, January 19 for Round 2 and the championship round of the Ak-Chin Invitational.

PBR Unleash The Beast
Ak-Chin Invitational 15/15
Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Event Leaders (Round 1 – Event Aggregate Event Points)

1. Alisson De Souza, 89.75-89.75-150 Points.
2. Brennon Eldred, 89.5-89.50-90 Points.
3. Dakota Buttar, 88.25-88.25-75 Points.
4. Cody Jesus, 87.75-87.75-60 Points.
5. Jess Lockwood, 87-87.00-45 Points.
Chase Outlaw, 0-0.00
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0.00
Lucas Divino, 0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0.00

PBR Unleash The Beast – Ak-Chin Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires
Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Luciano De Castro, 88-0-0-88.00-100 Points.
2. Colten Jesse, 87-0-0-87.00-60 Points.
3. Rubens Barbosa, 86.5-0-0-86.50-40 Points.
(tie). Lucas Divino, 86.5-0-0-86.50-40 Points.
(tie). Koal Livingston, 86.5-0-0-86.50-40 Points.
6. Claudio Montanha Jr., 86.25-0-0-86.25-15 Points.
7. Alex Marcilio, 86-0-0-86.00-5 Points.
8. Chase Outlaw, 85.5-0-0-85.50
(tie). João Ricardo Vieira, 85.5-0-0-85.50
10. Eduardo Aparecido, 85.25-0-0-85.25
11. J.B. Mauney, 85-0-0-85.00
12. Alisson De Souza, 84.5-0-0-84.50
(tie). Ramon de Lima, 84.5-0-0-84.50
14. Jess Lockwood, 84.25-0-0-84.25
15. Cody Nance, 83.75-0-0-83.75
16. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 83.5-0-0-83.50
17. Silvano Alves, 82.5-0-0-82.50
18. Cooper Davis, 81.5-0-0-81.50
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Buttar, 0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0.00
Emilio Resende, 0-0-0-0.00
Marco Antônio Eguchi, 0-0-0-0.00
Juan Carlos Contreras, 0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0.00
Jared Parsonage, 0-0-0-0.00
Paulo Ferreira Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Nathan Burtenshaw, 0-0-0-0.00
Sean Willingham, 0-0-0-0.00
Lonnie West, 0-0-0-0.00

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