Vieira Out for Tulsa; Expects to Return in Thackerville

PUEBLO, Colo. – Fabiano Vieira, currently fourth in the world standings, will miss this weekend’s Express Employment Professionals Classic, presented by Osage Casino, after dislocating his left shoulder this past weekend at the Frontier Communications Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires.

Vieira met with Dr. Tandy Freeman on Tuesday morning and has decided to not compete in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after X-rays also showed a small break in his shoulder. Vieira said he will not opt for surgery.

“The bone broke a little bit when I dislocated it,” Vieira said. “For another person, it is too much, but for me, nothing. It will not be a problem.”

Vieira said he expects to return to competition at the Winstar World Casino and Resort Invitational on Sept. 3-4 in Thackerville, Oklahoma. He has been replaced in this weekend’s 15/15 Bucking Battle by No. 16 Lachlan Richardson.

He is only 500.84 points behind world leader Kaique Pacheco and was in position to possibly win the Music City Knockout this past Saturday before Hammer It Again wreaked havoc on Vieira.

Vieira came out of the bucking chute in great position on Hammer It Again and was going move for move with the bovine athlete as Hammer It Again turned into Vieira’s left hand. Blake Sharp’s bull then picked it up another notch at 4.06 seconds and absolutely launched the 35-year-old into the DeWALT signage next to the bull out gate at Bridgestone Arena.

Hammer It Again was marked a career-high 46 points.

It wasn’t crashing into the steel gate that did the damage though, it was instead Hammer It Again’s rear hoof kicking Vieira in the shoulder that did the bulk of the damage.

“The bull kicked my arm and shoulder,” Vieira said.

PBR Sports Medicine was unable to place Vieira’s shoulder back into socket and he was transported to Vanderbilt Emergency Department for further medical attention. According to Vieira, doctors were unable to get his shoulder back into place until roughly 11:30 p.m. that night.

He was later released.

“They didn’t get my shoulder in until 11:30-11:40,” Vieira said. “It is not sore anymore. Nothing. No. No pain. When it came out, there was pain. When they put it back, there was pain. Now it is back and it is no pain no more.”

Vieira said he was disappointed that he was unable to continue in the tournament after his 4.06-second ride was enough to technically eliminate Cooper Davis (3.19 seconds on Who Dey), who went on to go head-to-head with Pacheco for the event championship.

Davis eventually won the event after advancing in Vieira’s place.

“I didn’t win the event and $75,000,” Vieira said despairingly. “My arm came out and sports medicine couldn’t put back in, so I couldn’t come back for next ride. I had to go to the hospital. It sucked.”

Vieira has spent the last three seasons trying to contend with a right shoulder injury. He now has dislocated both of his shoulders.

Vieira was already back to work Monday, attending physical therapy and trying to strengthen his arm at Fit-N-Wise in Decatur, Texas.

The Perola, Brazil, bull rider had already been working on the shoulder after first dislocating it at the 2016 Calgary Stampede in July.

Vieira also has gone team roping this week with his friends and said his arm is feeling OK.

He then added that despite the injury he would like a rematch against Hammer It Again. Vieira said he will possibly select Hammer it Again during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round draft.

There is also a chance that Hammer It Again could be placed in the 15/15 Bucking Battle, which airs on CBS, just as he is this coming weekend in Tulsa.

“Next week, I will pick him in short go at Thackerville,” Vieira said.

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko