Mansell Returns to the Arena in San Antonio After Knee Injury
SAN ANTONIO — The roar of the crowd in Las Vegas still lingers in Tyler Mansell’s memory. It was December 2024, the championship round of the Bullfighters Only (BFO) World Championship. The “Caldwell Kid” from Caldwell, Idaho was charging towards his second BFO world title.
Mansell had battled his way to Championship Saturday, and was one bull away from contending for the crown. His signature gritty style was on full display as he matched moves with his first of two bulls, throwing snappy fakes and making tight rounds. Then came the moment that changed everything.
“I knew my knee was wrecked and it couldn’t move much,” Mansell recalled. The pain hit hard and fast, but he wasn’t done. With the short round ahead, he toughed through it, fighting one more bull with heightened focus. “I had to use everything to my advantage and be more sharp to fight through it,” he said. “I didn’t fight all year long to say I can’t do it on the last bull. It was either go home and wish I did something different, or tough it out and try to win the world.”
He did just that, clinching the 2024 BFO world title despite the injury.
Medical scans later confirmed the damage: a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tears. Surgery followed, two procedures in all. The first reconstructed the knee, but complications from scar tissue and fluid buildup required a second operation to clear it out. Rehab has been a grueling daily fight to rebuild leg strength and regain the mobility required to stand toe-to-toe with a 1200-lb. fighting bull.
He had targeted a return for the 2025 season, but a training setback delayed everything. “I planned on being back for Salinas last year, so being out as long as I have has been devastating,” Mansell said. “Not being able to go fight bulls and do what I love to do most.”
Mansell’s mindset of hard work and no excuses has fueled his recovery. Now, in early 2026, the comeback is real. Training has him moving lighter and sharper than expected.
“I’m not coming back to participate. I’m coming back to win.”
The BFO Freestyle Fiesta at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is his first major stop back, and happens to be one of his favorite events as well. Mansell won the event in 2023 and 2024.
“San Antonio is one of my favorite events of the season and provides big boost towards Vegas. I want to win it again.” Mansell said. “The bulls looked really good at the finals and I’m excited to take my turn.”
The BFO Freestyle Fiesta inside of Freeman Coliseum starts at 2pm and is free with San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo grounds admission. For more details, visit sarodeo.com or bullfightersonly.com.
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.