EZEKIEL MITCHELL WINS CAMPING WORLD PBR LAST COWBOY STANDING IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – After two nights of intense competition, Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) went 3-for-5, out-dueling reigning PBR World Champion Cassio Dias (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil) to win the Camping World PBR Last Cowboy Standing in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

After riding three bulls on Monday night due to several re-rides, Mitchell finished in fourth place and sailed into Round 2. The 27-year-old Austin Gamblers athlete knew that Tuesday night would be more grueling and was up to the task.

As Round 2 began, he was paired with Rorschach (Universal Pro Rodeo/ Rachel & Dustin Howell/ Delmas/ Williams). To the crowd’s dismay, he hit the ground at 4.28 seconds but still made the cutline for Round 3.

Matched with Dangerous Medicine (Hart Cattle Company) in the third round of the night, Mitchell clung to the powerful animal athlete, gritting it out until the buzzer sounded. Although less than ideal, his 79-point score punched his ticket into the fourth round.

As the four-man Round 4 began, Mitchell fired from the chutes aboard War Daddy (TNT Bucking Bulls/ Hart Cattle Co). The crowd roared as his 84.5-point score was announced.

The only other man to make it to the final round of the night was none other than 2024 PBR World Champion Dias. In a hushed moment in the arena, Mitchell bucked off of I’m Legit Too (Hart Cattle Co/ Hale) at a mere 2.6 seconds.

Climbing aboard Renegade (Hale/ Vella/ Ogden/ Hart) it all boiled down to Dias. For 4.68 seconds the Wyoming crowd cheered on the Brazilian phenom and then his bovine opponent launched him to the ground, securing the win for Mitchell.

In addition to a $50,000 check, the win earned Mitchell 235 Challenger Global points, putting him amongst the Top 5 in the Challenger standings.

While the event in Cheyenne was an individual competition, teams within the separate PBR Teams League had the opportunity to send three riders to compete over the two nights in Wyoming. A separate bonus of $40,000 was designated to the team if one of their athletes was crowned the champion – with Mitchell’s win on Tuesday night, the Austin Gamblers earned the bonus.

The ride-to-survive format of the Camping World PBR Last Cowboy Standing welcomed 50 riders on Monday night as the two-night event began. Eleven cowboys out of a field of 50 recorded qualified rides in Round 1, guaranteeing the group of athletes a spot in Tuesday’s Round 2.

With a minimum of 25 riders required to advance to Round 2, the remaining 14 draw spots were determined based on time.   

The Top 8 riders in the aggregate following the second round then advanced to Round 3. Round 4 then consisted of the Top 4 riders in the aggregate based on the previous three rounds. Round 5 featured every rider who posted a qualified ride in Round 4. Two riders- Mitchell and Dias- then went onto Round 5.

In a winner-take-all format, the rider with the highest score in Round 5, Mitchell claimed the title.

With his final round buckoff, Kansas City Outlaws man Dias claimed a second-place finish. In Tuesday night’s opening round the 22-year-old Brazilian phenom was paired with Erik the Red (Tommy Julian/ Craig Moore/ D&H Cattle) showcasing his flawless form for 87.5 points.

In Round 3 Dias came down early off of Rowdy (Ogden Ranch/ Hart Cattle Co.) but advanced to Round 4 based on his aggregate score thus far. In Round 4, Dias gritted out for an 84.25-point ride aboard Killer Bee (Hart Cattle Company).

For his efforts, Dias earned 155 Challenger Global points to sit at No. 21 in the Challenger standings.

After a valiant effort across the two-day event, John Crimber (Decatur, Texas), who rides for the Florida Freedom in the separate PBR Teams League, settled into a third-place finish.

The 18-year-old rookie had the crowd on its feet after delivering an exhilarating 87.5-point ride aboard Cold Creek (Young Cattle/ Rocking A). Firing out of the chutes again in Round 3 Crimber netted the night’s highest ride score of 87.75 points aboard Top Shelf (P. Ro Ranch/ OK Corralis/ Gordon/ D&H Cattle).

Making his way into Round 4, Crimber was unable to convert aboard Rip (Wacey Hart/ TNT Bucking Bulls), hitting the ground at 5.69 seconds, which ended his night.

Crimber took home 96 Challenger Global points pushing him to No. 34 in the standings.

With a fourth-place finish Dustin Martinez (Canjilon, New Mexico) made a splash in Cheyenne by capturing the Round 1 win on Monday night.

The 27-year-old New Mexico cowboy sat at the top of the aggregate as Tuesday night commenced but struggled to convert in the remaining rounds. Making it all the way to Round 4 courtesy of his victory on night one, Martinez still collected 38 Challenger Global points moving him to No. 13 in the world standings.

Arizona Ridge Riders athlete Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) also rode his Round 1 victory to a fifth-place finish for the event overall. Despite being bucked off his Round 2 bull Nefarious (Stoney Pointe Rough Stock/ ET/ Baer/ Humpz & Hornz) and Mikey’s Surprise (Hart Cattle Co/ Hale) in Round 3, the Brazilian cowboy picked up 25 world points. Castro sits at No. 10 in the Challenger standings.

COURTESY OF PBR TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA