15/15 Bucking Battle Preview: World No. 1 Davis Looks to Continue to Ride his Momentum in Matchup vs. Woopaa
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis understands the 2021 season is far from over, but he also understands the path to winning a world title begins in the first quarter of the season.
Qualified rides and world points earned in February count just as much as they will when the 2021 PBR World Finals rolls around on Nov. 3-7 in Las Vegas.
Davis knows that all the small things during the year can certainly add up over the next nine months, and he has made sure to strike already this season.
The world No. 1 bull rider won last weekend’s 15/15 Bucking Battle with a 90-point ride on Born to Sin, and he is now set to take on 2020 ABBI Classic champion Woopaa in one of the marquee matchups for this weekend’s 15/15 in Pecos, Texas, at the PBR Can-Am Invitational.
“Right now, I am riding really good, and I am drawing to win every weekend,” Davis told PBR.com on Tuesday. “I am excited about it. There is nothing else I can say. I just feel like I have a chance to win every time I put my hand in the rope.”
Woopaa made his season debut in Del Rio with a 3.14-second buckoff of Colten Fritzlan for a 45.5-point bull score.
“I watched him last weekend with Fritzlan,” Davis said. “I don’t know. (Colten) just looked a tick behind. It looks like Woopaa will ride good. He has a couple of trips. He’s got the one he had with Fritzlan, and he has one where he can toss you more and be more to handle like he was with Jose (Vitor Leme). I’m excited.”
Fritzlan, meanwhile, has drawn 2019 ABBI Classic Champion Chiseled, who erupted for a 46.5-point bull score last weekend in Del Rio with a 4.68-second buckoff of Mauricio Moreira.
15/15 Bucking Battle Matchups for Pecos, Texas
Brennon Eldred vs. Pookie Holler (4-0, UTB)
Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Top Shelf (9-1, UTB)
Cody Teel vs. Boogie Bomb (6-5, UTB/METC)
Derek Kolbaba vs. Bentley (3-1, UTB)
Alex Cerqueira vs. Slingin Lead (5-0, UTB)
Silvano Alves vs. Canadian Mist (39-5, UTB)
Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Crossover (6-4, UTB/METC)#
Marco Eguchi vs. Oilfield Outlaw’s Yellow Feather (1-0, UTB)
Dener Barbosa vs. Detroit Lean (4-0, UTB)
Cole Melancon vs. Hocus Pocus (20-4, UTB)*
Colten Fritzlan vs. Chiseled (16-9, UTB)
Mauricio Moreira vs. War Dress (1-0, UTB)
Kaique Pacheco vs. Lil 2 Train (25-11, UTB/METC)*
Junior Patrik Souza vs. Mike’s Motive (0-1, UTB)
Cooper Davis vs. Woopaa (3-1, UTB)
*-Rematch
#-Rider has previously covered the bull
Davis has a 130-point lead in the world standings on No. 2 Junior Patrik Souza through the season’s first four events. He has made things count against the rankest bulls every weekend, going 4-for-6 in 15/15 Bucking Battles and championship rounds.
The 2015 PBR World Finals event winner is 2-for-2 with two 90-point rides in both 15/15 Bucking Battles this season. He finished second in Okeechobee, Florida, with a 91.25-point ride on Ridin Solo.
The world points up for grabs in the 15/15 Bucking Battle (50 to the winner), as well as bonus points for ride scores (9, 8 or 7 points), could be a difference-maker in the 2021 World Championship race.
In fact, 32.5% of Davis’s world point total this season have come from the two previous 15/15 Bucking Battles. Davis has earned 105.5 of his 326.5 world points in the bonus round of competition that airs on CBS national television.
“The way I was thinking about it, there are a lot of small things that add up,” Davis said. “These 15/15s add up, but the eight and nine points for even ride scores can make up a difference at the Finals if you ride 50 bulls in a season. That is all the difference in the world.
“It is the small things that are going to lead to you not catching someone at the Finals or basically having a shot at the World Finals.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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