The PBR Unleash The Beast tour is making its long-awaited return to Tampa, Florida as the best bull riders in the World will make their first appearance there since 2012.

Guilherme Marchi was the event winner then, but there isn’t a clear favorite in 2026.

Julio Cesar Marques remains the World No. 1, but with Dalton Kasel coming off his second event win this season in Milwaukee last week, that spot is now very much in jeopardy.

Kasel sits at 277 Points on the year, while Cesar Marques is at 279. Marco Rizzo sits in 3rd with 242.5.

Cesar Marques and Rizzo both ride in Section 5 on Friday where Rizzo will face impressive UTB newcomer Lala Land, and Cesar Marques takes on 42nd-ranked Nasubi.

Kasel will matchup with Nightmare, an unpredictable but powerful bull in Section 4 on Night 1.

It isn’t just the Top 3 riders who are vying for the No. 1 ranking, however. Only 105 points separate 1st and 6th, and only 114.5 points separate 1st and 10th.

An event victory from 10th-ranked Clay Guiton or 8th-ranked Paulo Eduardo Rossetto, for example, would drastically shake up the Standings.

Another Monster Energy Teams Challenge Doubleheader

In Milwaukee last week the Kansas City Outlaws defeated the Oklahoma Wildcatters 173.15 – 83.95 in each team’s first Teams Challenge match of the season.

This week, the Wildcatters are looking to get in the win column.

The Wildcatters are rostering Celber Henrique Marques, Cort McFadden, Kase Hitt, and JaCauy Hale, a slight change from last week, swapping Guilherma Valleiras out for Marques.

Meanwhile, the Thunder will feature Kade Madsen, Paulo Eduardo Rossetto, Maverick Smith, and Felipe Furlan for this week’s action.

In the second matchup o the night , the two-time PBR Teams Series MVP John Crimber and the Florida Freedom make their Teams Challenge debut against the Texas Rattlers.

Crimber, alongside, No. 14 Alex Cerqueira Thiago Salgado and Elizmar Jeremias will take on Claudio Montanha Jr.,  Daniel Keeping, Brady Fielder and Braidy Randolph.

They were 2-for-4 in their first Teams Challenge game, a 264.40-170.15 loss to the Gamblers.

Keep Your Eyes on These Riders

No. 11 ranked Callum Miller currently holds the best riding percentage of any rider with more than one ride at 72.73%.

Miller will look to improve that UTB leading ride percentage atop 70th-ranked bull Big Timber in Round 1 on Friday.

Jess Lockwood has only ridden two bulls in his seven attempts thus far, but each ride was good enough to be a round winner, both worth 89.35. He’ll take on UTB newcomer Raider and will try to snap Raider’s buckoff streak at three.

Jose Vitor Leme successfully avoided a career-worst seven consecutive buck-offs last week when he rode Body Bog for 88.45 points in Round 1. However, that remains his sole ride of the season. If Leme wants to keep his Championship aspirations alive, he’ll need to find his consistency with urgency.