As the final rounds of the 2023 PBR World Finals draw near, anticipation in the world of bull riding has reached a fever pitch. Round 6 of the UTB tournament was the most thrilling because of an incredible ride by Brazilian cowboy Dener Barbosa on the Saturday night before the Sunday afternoon final. There had been chants of “8-second buzzers” previously, but Barbosa’s performance on Sugar Smack, the bull, was on a whole other level.

This incredible 90-point ride by Dener Barbosa was posted on the PBR’s official YouTube account. The performance was more than just for show, as it ended up becoming a significant factor in the PBR World Finals standings.

Yee-hawing his way to the Sunday finals

Kaique Pacheco and Jose Vitor Leme, both Brazilians, have scored 980 and 940 points, respectively, to establish an undeniable dominance in the bull riding arenas of the United States. American cowboy Dalton Kasel, who has 792.66 points, is ranked third among PBR bull riders. But the Brazilian cowboy Dener Barbosa, who is now in fourth place with 750.83 points, is closing in fast, putting the third spot in jeopardy. Round 6 of the 2023 PBR UTB World Finals took place on Saturday night, and Barbosa showed the crowd that he intends to bring home the full podium to Brazil.

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In the sixth round, Dener Barbosa faced off against Sugar Smack. Despite his moniker, Sugar Smack is not very kind to his riders who are bucked off; his buck-off percentage is a stunning 86%. The Brazilian cowboy exhibited no symptoms of nervousness when facing up against the bull. With the metal chutes removed, Sugar Smack gave it his all to buck off the cowboy, but after ten attempts, he still couldn’t do it. Barbosa managed to beat the 8-second timer, which earned him a massive 90 points from the judges.

This huge score of 90 points propelled the cowboy all the way up to fourth place in the world rankings. Barbosa’s first-round UTB score of 85.75 put him in a strong position. From rounds two through five, however, the Brazilian was unable to compete due to repeated buck-offs. Nevertheless, the sixth round was particularly fruitful for the cowboy, as he returned with a huge count of 90 points and now has an aggregate of 175.75 and 125 points in the competition. On Sunday afternoon, the finals would be held, with the whole bull-riding community waiting to see who would emerge victorious.

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