Palermo Ready for Tulsa
By: Justin Felisko
August 25, 2016
Robson Palermo removed himself from the Music City Knockout after aggrivating a knee injury, but he says he’s ready to go in Tulsa. Photo: Andy Watson / BullStockMedia.com
PUEBLO, Colo. – Robson Palermo is returning to competition Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the Express Employment Professionals Classic, presented by Osage Casino, after missing the remainder of the Music City Knockout because of right knee sprain.
Tulsa Draw Notes (8-25-16)
The three-time World Finals event winner made a surprising decision to remove himself from the Nashville event following Round 1 of the Music City Knockout after he aggravated the previous knee injury during his 4.18-second buckoff against Big Benny.
Palermo confirmed to PBR.com this week that he will be competing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and that his knee injury has improved.
“Yeah my knee is good,” Palermo said. “It is just a little sore, but it is alright.”
Palermo has drawn Seven Dust for the 15/15 Bucking Battle on Saturday night. Seven Dust bucked off Palermo in 2.71 seconds at the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Kansas City, Missouri, this past February.
He will first kick things off against GAH’s Lil Man in Round 1. Lil Man is making his BFTS debut after going 5-0 at the Touring Pro Division level.
Round 1 is an ABBI night of competition, featuring the best 3- and 4-year-old bucking bulls in the business.
Palermo heads into Tulsa 1,557.83 points behind world leader Kaique Pacheco.
Pacheco has drawn Purina Athlete (0-0, BFTS) for Round 1.
There will be only three alternates competing in Tulsa because of injuries to No. 4 Fabiano Vieira (left shoulder), No. 22 Ben Jones (shoulder surgery) and No. 29 Chase Outlaw (left shoulder injury).
No. 36 Kurt Shephard is the top alternate and is 2.5 points behind No. 35 Luis Blanco. Shephard has drawn Flat Top Pete (0-0, BFTS) for Round 1.
Blanco is set to compete in his third BFTS event this season. Blanco (31-for-74 at all PBR levels of competition) used a fourth-place finish at the PBR Mexico event in San Luis Potosi to get back to the BFTS.
Blanco faces Bushwhacked (0-0, BFTS)) in Round 1.
Dakota Buttar is the top alternate and is making his Built Ford Tough Series debut following a second-place finish in Ottawa at the inaugural PBR Monster Energy Canada Tour event. Buttar has drawn Bottoms Up (0-1, BFTS).
Buttar, currently ranked 36th in the world standings, is riding a streak of six consecutive qualified rides. He is 28-for-46 (60.87 percent) at non-BFTS events. Buttar is also less than one point behind No. 35 Kurt Shephard for the final BFTS draw spot. The 23-year-old is second in the PBR Canada standings and is a two-time Canadian Pro Rodeo Association champion.
“Most of the time, I try and focus on me and the bull,” Buttar told Covy Moore of PBRCanada.com. “Not to worry about what everyone else is doing, who rides and things like that. I just want to get that bull rode each and every day. I used to follow what the bulls’ patterns are. I quit that in the last few years because that got me in some trouble.”
No. 37 Stormy Wing, who is five points behind Shephard, takes on Little Tim’s All Nighter. Wing is looking to end his streak of 16 consecutive buckoffs.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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