INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Hudson Bolton (Milan, Tenn.), returning from a four-event layoff following an injury to his ribs, opened competition with a vengeance, knocking down a big 89.90-point ride to earn the opening round victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Saturday night.
On the first out Saturday night, Bolton, an up-and-coming 20-year-old cowboy and 2025 PBR Rookie of the Year, bested Workin Man, securing the round win to top the leaderboard heading into Championship Sunday at the 14th Unleash The Beast event of the 2026 season.
Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland) scored the second-highest score of the night with 89.30 points against Coach, earning 18 points in the standings with the outing to remain at No. 9.
No. 8 Cort McFadden (Novice, Texas) finished third Saturday night scoring 88.95 points on Rockabilly.
One week removed from his first win in four years, 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) capped off the night in front of a near sold-out crowd in Indianapolis with an 88.70-point ride on Super Trooper. The ride for the 14th-ranked bull rider helped secure the first victory of the season for the Carolina Cowboys in the Monster Energy Team Challenge, a preseason showcase ahead of the 2026 PBR Teams season.
Marco Rizzo (Quitman, Georgia) closed out the top five during the opening round, scoring 87.30 points on Simon Saysin the second section in Indianapolis. Rizzo currently leads the Rookie of the Year race with 323 points, leading Maverick Smith (Cabool, Mo.) by a narrow six points in a heated race.
In the other METC game, the Kansas City Outlaws (3-1) took down the Arizona Ridge Riders (0-4) to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Monster Energy Team Challenge playoffs with an 87.25-84.30 win. Cassio Dias (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil), the 2024 PBR World Champion, took home the victory for the Outlaws with his 87.25-point ride on One Chance. Seeking a walk-off win in the bottom of the final frame, Keyshawn Whitehorse’s (McCracken Spring, Utah) 84.30-point ride on White Command wasn’t enough.
With the Carolina Cowboys (1-3) shutting out the Nashville Stampede (2-2) 88.70-0 courtesy of Swearingen’s walk-off ride on Super Trooper, Nashville was eliminated from playoff contention and the Florida Freedom (3-1) secured the final playoff spot. They will join the Missouri Thunder, Austin Gamblers, and Kansas City Outlaws in the semifinals, which begin in Albuquerque on March 27 with No. 1 Missouri taking on No. 4 Florida. No. 2 Austin plays No. 3 Kansas City in Billings on April 17.
Earlier in the evening, Ransom bucked off Jadon Hayes (Abilene, Texas), who was making his UTB debut, for a score of 45.60 points, the fifth-highest bull score of the season to take over the title of No. 1 in the YETI Bull of the Year standings.
Championship Sunday begins at 2 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon with the action available to watch on Paramount+.
Monster Energy Team Challenge Games
Game 1 — Indianapolis — March 21, 2026
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
Kansas City Outlaws |
0 |
0/0* |
0 |
87.25 |
87.25 |
|
Arizona Ridge Riders |
0 |
0 |
0 |
84.30 |
84.30 |
*Denotes a RR attempt.
^Denotes a declined RR.
OUTS
Kansas City Outlaws — Koltin Hevalow bucked off Jailor in 5.15 seconds; Alison dos Santos bucked off Torched in 2.53 seconds; Eric Henrique Domingos bucked off Jeffery D in 5.85 seconds; Cassio Dias rode One Chance for 87.25 points
Arizona Ridge Riders — Bruno Carvalho bucked off The Agenda in 3.89 seconds, Re-Ride awarded and taken; Afonso Quintino bucked off Moolah in 6.73 seconds; Luciano De Castro bucked off Wavy Bomb in 2.75 seconds; Keyshawn Whitehorse rode White Command for 84.30 points; Bruno Carvalho bucked off Lever Action in 3.43 seconds (Re-Ride)
Kansas City Outlaws
1-for-4 (87.25 points)
Arizona Ridge Riders
1-for-4 (84.30 points)
Re-Rides: Bruno Carvalho bucked off The Agenda in 3.89 seconds, Re-Ride awarded and taken; Bruno Carvalho bucked off Lever Action in 3.43 seconds (Re-Ride)
High Score: Cassio Dias 87.25 on One Chance
Game 2 — Indianapolis — March 21, 2026
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
Nashville Stampede |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Carolina Cowboys |
0 |
0 |
0 |
88.70 |
88.70 |
*Denotes a RR attempt.
^Denotes a declined RR.
OUTS
Nashville Stampede — Alan de Souza bucked off Black Tie in 4.25 seconds, Challenged and ruled a no ride; Austin Richardson bucked off Triton in 2.58 seconds; Rogerio Vanancio bucked off Sour Patch in 4.89 seconds; Andy Guzman bucked off Simple Man in 3.65 seconds, Challenged and ruled a no ride
Carolina Cowboys — Elijah Jennings bucked off Night Agent in 6.66 seconds; Trace Redd bucked off Tacky Jack in 2.77 seconds; Elizmar Jeremias bucked off Mr. Gold in 2.24 seconds; Daylon Swearingen rode Super Trooper for 88.70 points
Nashville Stampede
0-for-4 (0 points)
Challenges: Alan de Souza bucked off Black Tie in 4.25 seconds, Challenged and ruled a no ride; Andy Guzman bucked off Simple Man in 3.65 seconds, Challenged and ruled a no ride
Carolina Cowboys
1-for-4 (88.70 points)
High Score: Daylon Swearingen 88.70 points on Super Trooper
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media