LUKE BALLARD ELECTRIFIES VEGAS TO WIN BFO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Coming into Vegas, “Cool Hand” Luke Ballard ranked third in the Pendleton World Standings. While the Kansas native undoubtedly had a break-out rookie season, he was still somewhat overshadowed by fellow rookie sensation Layton Woodberry. Then there was the narrative of whether the World Champions, Weston Rutkowski and Tyler Mansell, could repeat.
Ballard knew he had to make a statement. At BFO Championship Saturday inside Resorts World in Las Vegas, he did just that.
With the fans buzzing over the unbelievable scenario of four fighters having a shot at a title on the final day of the season, Ballard landed a trick rarely seen in freestyle bullfighting. With his back to the shotgun chute, he called for Chase Hiracheta’s prized fighting bull “Pumpjack.” With impeccable timing, Ballard executed a blind backflip that blew the roof off of the BFO arena.
Andy Burelle, inventor of the freestyle bullfighting backflip and BFO color commentator, was the only one in on Ballard’s plan. “I knew Luke had the skill and the courage. I just tried to give him the confidence. When he entered the arena, he looked up at me in the announcer’s booth. We nodded to each other, then I knew we were all in for something special.”
The day was far from over for Luke Ballard. He still had to win the Hooey Championship Round versus spoilers Andrez “Sasquatch” Gonzalez and Cole Bates. Ballard drew the legendary “Habanero” of Trever Hamsher, the 2022 and 2023 Bull of the Year. This event was Habanero’s last competition before retirement.
“I knew this bull. In August, we went to Vegas, and one of my buddies drew him, and the bull kind of wrecked him out, and he wasn’t able to finish his fight. So that’s always running through the back of your head,” Ballard said. “But when I drew him, it was like, I’m either going to win the world, or I’m going to lose and probably feel it afterwards.”
Ballard not only finished his fight, he bested the feared “Habanero” to capture the BFO World Championship.
As the BFO Triple Crown (World Championship, Rookie of the Year, Resorts World Champion) winner, he’ll have plenty of Gist Silversmiths hardware for the upcoming season. With Ballard looking to defend his title, 2024 will be a battle of young guns and veterans fiercely competing to once again raise the bar for freestyle bullfighting.
BFO was founded by bullfighters and is Freestyle Bullfighting’s Premier Professional League. BFO features an international roster of elite athletes competing against the most treacherous fighting bulls for the largest purses in the history of the sport. BFO is committed to the humane treatment of our extraordinary animal athletes.