Dakota Dust-Up: Heavy Hits and High Scores in Sioux Falls

The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast didn’t just return from its week-long hiatus—it exploded back onto the scene. Taking over the Denny Sanford Premier Center. 40 of the world’s best riders went head-to-head with a powerhouse pen of bulls in a weekend defined by grit and gravity-defying scores. From the first gate crack to the final whistle, the atmosphere in Sioux Falls was electric, proving that while the riders may have taken a break, the intensity of the premier series hasn’t lost a step.

World No. 1 John Crimber strode into the arena with a slim 47-point lead over World No. 2 Sage Kimzey. While Crimber fought to keep his grip on the top spot, the pressure was just as suffocating at the bottom of the leaderboard as well. For those riders hovering around World No. 35 and below, Sioux Falls was a desperate “ride-or-die” battle to secure a spot before the cut for World Finals. In this dirt-and-iron pressure cooker, every whistle meant the difference between a title run and a trip home.

Friday night delivered a masterclass in bull power, headlined by a massive 46.15-point bull score from Ransom—the highest marked out of the entire 2026 season. After Ransom tossed Australian standout Brady Fielder to the dirt, the race for the YETI World Champion Bull title intensified. The No. 1 spot changed hands twice as heavy hitters Red Demon and Pegasus traded blows in their respective outs.

But the biggest shock came when the “Dener Bell” was rung. Dener Barbosa electrified the crowd, surging up the leaderboard with a monstrous 93.10-point ride atop Pegasus. It was a statement ride that proved in Sioux Falls the bulls were big, but some of the riders were able to convert and hear the 8-second whistle.

Saturday night shifted the momentum toward the riders, though the bulls still brought their A-game. John Crimber entered the night protecting his narrow lead and drew Rolex to close out Round 2. It was a dogfight. Rolex spent the full eight seconds trying to yank Crimber out of position. As Crimber later admitted on the Paramount+ broadcast, he was losing his rope, but he refused to let go. He reached the whistle for an 89.40-point ride, mashing the gas, claiming the round win, and extending the lead now to a comfortable 86.5 points over Sage Kimzey.

Meanwhile, in the pressure cooker of the dreaded “cut line,” Daniel Keeping found his rhythm. Building on his 89-point effort aboard Hostage in Round 1. Keeping turned in an 86.-50-point ride on Husky. Heading into Championship Sunday, Keeping didn’t just survive—he thrived, putting much-needed distance between himself and the cutline.

Championship Sunday saw a return of the raw bull power that defined Friday night. John Crimber secured the Round 3 win with a surgical 89.50-point ride aboard Scrappy, setting the stage for the high-stakes Championship round. Daniel Keeping,  remaining perfect on the weekend, selected Pegasus for his final out, while Crimber called for a rubber match against Lights Out.

As the round progressed and the last two outs drew closer, could Keeping play a spoiler role to John running away with the lead? Dan sure tried, but Pegasus sent him to the dirt after 4.06 seconds, and all eyes were on Crimber and Lights Out. As John nodded and the gate opened, the energy inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center was electric. John and Lights Out were tied 1-2 in their career series; Crimkber had previously conquered him for 88.50 points, but the bull had evened the score by sending him to the dirt in their last meeting.

As the gate cracked open, the crowd’s roar grew with every tick of the clock. John stayed firmly in control, spurred to earn bonus points and dress up the ride. When the 8-second whistle finally screamed, the arena exploded. In-house announcer Clint Adkins confirmed the powerhouse finish: a massive 91.50-point ride to claim the event championship and a massive gap between Crimber and the rest of the world.

But don’t blink, as the riders now head to Billings for Friday and Saturday night, and with the amount of points still available… a lot could change in the World Standings. Congrats to John on the event championship…What will happen after Billings?

We’ll have to wait and see with bated breath, but one thing is definitely for sure: you won’t want to miss whatever happens!