Bull Riding Phenom Dominates, Earns 164 Challenger Series Points to Become Rodeo Champion

Rodeo excellence and the PBR, short for Professional Bull Riders, goes hand in hand. Thus, when the PBR’s Challenger Series began in Virginia, the best bull-riding talents in the country also rolled into town. Among them was a certain rider from Brazil who, until very recently, was relatively unknown in the rodeo circles. However, after his performance on Sunday, this Brazilian rider has acquired a huge fan following.

The 28-year-old showed supreme skills before an awe-struck crowd at the EagleBank Arena. His rise to fame started on Saturday when he won Round 1 of the PBR Fairfax Invitational with an electrifying ride atop Stray Bullet. However, his most splendid 164-point winning performance was yet to come.

Rodeo star’s golden finish at the PBR’s Challenger Series

Joao Paulo Fernandes wanted to become part of rodeo history, which had him going for a sweeping victory. He had already impressed the crowd with his previous win, but he knew that a golden finish at the PBR’s Challenger Series would solidify his place in their hearts. His leading score of 85.5 points from Saturday’s ride had stoked the embers of his determination, and he was resolved not to allow any obstacle to keep him from his goal. But he had a huge battle in front of him as he faced off against the Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls’ Donkey. As per reports on PBR, Fernandes earned 87.5 points to extend his lead. In the final round, on his way to the sweep, Fernandes faced a slight setback.

Joao Paulo Fernandes was the last bull riding hero out of the chutes, which paired him with the fiercest animal athlete of the meet. Punkin Eater raged and bucked with unmatched intensity, but Fernandes showed incredible skill and stayed on the bull for the requisite amount of time. He earned 83 points, which brought his Challenger Series points total to 164. His peers from the American rodeo world had a disastrous performance at the PBR Fairfax Invitational.

Joao Paulo Fernandes outshines American bull riding competitors

Joao Paulo Fernandes was the absolute champion of the rodeo competition in Fairfax. But quite astonishingly, none of his American competitors came even close to him in regards to points. Jefferson Silva of Massachusetts was the distant second with a total of 68 Challenger Series points. He was able to make the scoreboard in just one ride atop Big Gulp, registering an 82-point score. The final runner-up was Nashville’s rodeo legend, Eli Byler.

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Byler rode the indomitable Oklahoma Smokeshow that bucked him off its back in the first 4.88 seconds. Byler was confident of redemption in Round 2 and scored a respectable 80 points to continue his contention in the championship round. In the last and final round, Byler’s opponent, The Fray, upended him in 4.59 seconds. The next stop in the PBR Challenger Series is Fort Worth, Texas. There, the American bull riding paragons will try once more to rack up more Challenger Series points and reach the finals with their heads held high.

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