What to Watch For: Swearingen Returns to MSG as World Champion

By: James Youness

PUEBLO, Colo. – Historically speaking, as the PBR kicks off its 30th anniversary celebration this weekend, not many elite bull riders have hailed from New York, or the Northeast in general. Even fewer have gone on to win world titles, regularly dominating the competition and growing the sport within markets around the country via top-tier success on tour.

Which are a few of the many reasons why 2022 World Champion Daylon Swearingen’s return to Madison Square Garden this weekend in hopes of capturing a second-consecutive world title means more than a typical event. For bull riding fans throughout the Empire State and Swearingen alike.

“It’s definitely growing, and that’s pretty cool. Just being part of the sport and being from here, it helps,” Swearingen offered in response to his hometown region’s growing adoration for the electrifying sport.

“My goal when I turned 18 was to be here (MSG), so it definitely holds some sentimental value to me,” Swearingen said. “This is where one of my main goals started, was to be on tour the first of the year, so that’s been pretty big.”

While a majority of the Piffard, New York, native’s family was in attendance during last weekend’s PBR Albany Invitational to support the 23-year-old, that won’t stop his grandfather and aunt from witnessing the World Champion take the stage within one of the world’s most famous arenas when the Unleash The Beast Tour visits Madison Square Garden Jan. 6-8.

“Yeah, it’s kind of my hometown event, even though Albany is kind of closer (to Piffard), but this was the first PBR I had ever been to before I was riding and stuff, so that’s pretty cool about it,” Swearingen told PBR.com.

“There’s just so much happening there; a hockey game last night, tonight there’s the Knicks game, just so many great things happen in that arena.”

Despite his uncharacteristic 1-for-8 (12.5%) start to the year, Swearingen is locked in and set to hit the chutes Friday night after catching up on some mental work and riding a practice bull this week.

“I want this to be my best year yet, better than last year, all of the previous years,” Swearingen said.

“You just have to keep working. I’m not going to get complacent. I’ve gotten there, I’m just trying to work out of it. I have to start making some stuff happen, just enjoy and love having fun doing what I love to do.”

Matched against Soul Train in Round 1, which he bucked off in 4.45 seconds last summer during the Oklahoma City-hosted Freedom Fest, Swearingen will look to get back in the ride column with a rank performance, which he’s proved he’s more than capable of logging over his entertaining career.

WELCOME BACK

As a fellow cowboy who enjoys his occupation and is instilled with championship aspirations, two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme is set to make his 2023 Unleash The Beast debut Friday in New York City. Following up on his 2022 PBR Team Series MVP showcase, which earned the veteran a $50,000 bonus and bragging rights until the exciting new series returns this summer for year two, the 25-year-old enters this weekend’s action with a 6-for-13 record inside Madison Square Garden.

Also set to compete for the first time this season, Cole Melancon, Alisson de Souza, and Alex Cerqueira will each make their 2023 Unleash The Beast debut inside Madison Square Garden Friday.

With a few familiar faces reuniting with the field, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup this weekend in New York City:

WHO’S IN FOR NEW YORK

Andrew Alvidrez
Cooper Davis
Daniel Keeping
Rafael Jose de Brito
Mason Taylor
Thiago Salgado
Brady Oleson
Silvano Alves
Boudreaux Campbell
Keyshawn Whitehorse
Luciano de Castro
Dalton Kasel
Wingson Henrique da Silva
Jesse Petri
Colten Fritzlan
Marcelo Procopio Pereira
Braidy Randolph
Kaique Pacheco
Eduardo Aparecido
Manoelito de Souza Junior
Chase Outlaw
Casey Roberts
Koltin Hevalow
Derek Kolbaba
Junior Patrick Souza
Rafael Henrique dos Santos
Bob Mitchell
Tate Pollmeier
Joao Henrique Lucas
Eli Vastbinder
Dener Barbosa
Ezekiel Mitchell
Adriano Salgado
Daylon Swearingen
Joao Ricardo Vieira
Mauricio Gulla Moreira
Dakota Louis
Cole Melancon
Alisson De Souza
Ednei Caminhas
Taylor Allen
Alex Cerqueira

OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER

Sandro Batista
Briggs Madsen
Marcus Mast
Vitor Losnake
Cody Jesus
Kyler Oliver
Cole Fischer
Chase Dougherty
Clayton Sellars
Ednelio Almeida
Jess Lockwood

NEWS & NOTES

With Leme drawing back into the lineup, just $2,000 away from reaching the $5.5 million earnings mark, and Ridin’ Solo set to buck in a second-straight UTB event after making his 2023 debut last weekend in Albany, Friday night’s first round will feature a combined 10 Gold Buckles, including two from Leme, three from Silvano Alves and one each from Swearingen, Ednei Caminhas, Kaique Pacheco and Cooper Davis.

ALVIDREZ BRINGS 68.5-POINT LEAD INTO NEW YORK CITY

The hottest rider in the world isn’t always sitting atop the Unleash The Beast standings, but for the past two weeks, that’s exactly been the case, as Andrew Alvidrez has been on an absolute tear. Already quickly approaching the $100,000 earnings mark through just five events, the Seminole, Texas, native is enjoying a career-best, six-out ride streak and will look to extend his points lead over No. 2 Cooper Davis Friday night during his Round 1 matchup against Express Lane, who’s yet to compete on the premier series tour this year.

ROUND 1 REMATCHES

Boudreaux Campbell vs. American Gangster (2.54 seconds at PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational in Glendale, Arizona)
Braidy Randolph vs. Miller Time (88.75 at PBR St. Louis Invitational in St. Louis, Missouri)
Daylon Swearingen vs. Soul Train (4.45 seconds at Freedom Fest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Ednei Caminhas vs. Man Hater (2.09 seconds at PBR Sunday at Cowtown in Fort Worth, Texas)
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Tested’s Viper (88.75 points at Stampede Days in Nashville, Tennessee; 3.95 seconds at PBR St. Louis Invitational in St. Louis, Missouri)
Eli Vastbinder vs. Smooth Kat (4.47 seconds at PBR Last Cowboy Standings in Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Silvano Alves vs. Casper (6.48 seconds at 2021 World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada)

FOLLOW ALONG

All of this weekend’s action will be available to watch beginning Friday Jan. 6 at 7:45 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV and will continue Saturday, Jan. 7 ay 6:45 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV before concluding Sunday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as the world’s best bull riders get set to duke it out at the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden Jan. 6-8.

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media

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