Rutkowski takes the belt
Texas man wins BFO Las Vegas Championship, pockets $21,500 in Sin City
LAS VEGAS – For Weston Rutkowski, Saturday was more than redemption. It was a mission accomplished.
Rutkowski is a 27-year-old freestyle bullfighter who is chasing the first true world championship in nearly two decades, and he made a big move toward that by winning the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, pocketing $15,000 and grabbing the title belt.
“This is those earning mornings you get up to put in the work is paying off,” he said. “It’s a satisfying feeling to know you are reaping what you sow when you get here.”
He put the finishing touches to a marvelous run in the City of Lights with a 90,5-point fight with 12x and Costa Fighting Bulls’ Bad Intentions on Saturday morning at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. He finished his stay in Las Vegas by earning $21,500 – he won his second straight Roughy Cup last week, worth $6,000, and also collected $500 for winning his first-round set this past Wednesday.
That pushes his season earnings to $41,825 and gives him a commanding lead in the race toward the inaugural Bullfighters Only world title.
“This is the next step,” Rutkowski said. “Every day is a new goal. I’m going to celebrate this one, because I came here with the mindset to win both of them.
“Tomorrow we get ready to fight the next bull and finish out the season as the first BFO world champ. I have put myself in position to do that, but it’s not over yet.”
The Las Vegas Championship was a tournament-style competition. Nine men qualified for Saturday’s final day, which featured three three-man bouts. The winners of each set advanced to the short round.
Rutkowski posted the highest score of the opening round with an 87-point fight to advance.
“I knew he was a good bull, but that dude was hot,” he said, explaining that the animal was aggressive and remained in close contact with Rutkowski throughout the one-minute bout. “You can’t let that wig out your mind out. You have to focus on those moments of chaos.”
It worked, and he was matched in the championship round with Nebraskans Beau Schueth and Zach Call. That’s when Rutkowski stepped up his game with Bad Intentions, starting the fight with his back facing the bull, jumping up and allowing the animal to run between his legs.
“It’s called the Ol' Swoosh,” he said of the move. “Chuck Swisher and Dusty Tuckness came up with it a few years ago. I haven’t done that move since 2014.
“I had two of the best guys in the world that were part of the short round. I had to ante up. There’s no way you’re going to become the champ in any event if you’re not willing to sacrifice.”
Those sacrifices are paying off in a big way.
One more chance to fight
Call outlasts Wildcard field for a shot at BFO Las Vegas Championship
LAS VEGAS – Zach Call felt like he left some points on the board in his first-round bout at the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship.
He made sure that didn’t happen Friday during the event’s Wildcard Round at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The Mullen, Neb., man dominated the first round of the Wildcard with an 85.5-point fight to advance to the day’s final round with Toby Inman of Davis Junction, Ill., who had an 85.5 in the second round.
It was a head-to-head match between the young gun Call and the veteran Inman, with only the winner moving on to Saturday’s BFO Las Vegas Championship finale, which takes place at 11 a.m., also at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It will be followed by a “sessions” performance at 1:30 p.m.Tickets for the final day of the BFO Las Vegas Championship are on sale at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.
“I wanted to push my bulls today as much as I could and see where the cards fall,” said Call, who matched moves with 12X and Costa Fighting Bulls’ Sid Vicious for 87 points to end Inman’s run for the title. “I was watching film of my fight from the other day, and I noticed a few things where I could get some more points.”
He got them Friday, especially in his final battle with Sid Vicious.
“I had seen that short-round bull at the Roughy Cup,” he said. “I was excited to have him, but he got my legs there at the end.”
In fact, both Call and Inman were hooked by their bulls in the final round. Call was the first to go and had a strong fight through most of his 60-second bout. It was only at the end that Sid Vicious dumped him to the ground.
“I don’t really like being the first guy, because you don’t know what you need to do,” Call said. “Toby came out and did everything he could.”
True to form, Inman started his fight with a back flip over his bull and stayed close to the animal. He was dumped to the ground twice in his 85.5-point battle, but he continued to go after the animal. In the survive-and-advance, tournament-style format, both men knew they needed to pull out all stops if they hoped to be in Saturday’s championship.
“This format definitely makes you work for it,” Call said. “Coming back this way was tough, but when you fought your way back, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”
He did, and he has one more chance to prove himself against eight more of the best bullfighters in the sport.
Fast and furious fights
Four more men advance to the BFO Las Vegas Championship
LAS VEGAS – The action at the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship was wild, electric and dangerous Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Four men advanced to Saturday’s finale, three more will move on to Friday’s Wildcard and one man was injured and could not finish his fight. When the smoke cleared, Beau Schueth posted the highest-marked fight of the day with an 88.5-point bout to advance past Cody Emerson.
“All this summer I’ve seen that bull go, and I knew he was really hot,” Schueth said of 12X and Costa Fighting Bulls’ Bad Intentions. “I’ve wanted to fight him, and luckily I drew him today. I started with a fake, and he bit on it. But that bull could switch around fast, and he was back on me.
“Luckily he just barely caught my baggies, so I ripped them all the way off. I got to break him down even more. He kept coming all 40 seconds. He was definitely a difficult bull to get around but a fun bull to get around.”
He will be joined in Saturday’s round by Tanner Zarnestski, Schell Apple and Travis Gidley. Zarnetski posted an 83.5 to upend Toby Inman’s 81, and Apple was 81 to slide past Ross Johnson’s 80. When Ross Hill suffered a serious knee injury early in his bout and was unable to finish, Travis Gidley advanced with a 76.5.
While the four winners move on to Saturday, the others will battle back during the Wildcard. Eight men will fight for one spot in the championship round. Both performances begin at 11 a.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and follow-up shows that feature the Bullfighters Only “Sessions” will begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Tickets for the final two days of the BFO Las Vegas Championship are on sale at www.HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.
“Being able to advance to Saturday is huge for me,” Schueth said. “If I would’ve had to go through the Wildcard to win this deal, I would’ve had to fight five bulls. That’s a lot of bulls to go through, especially with these great ones we have in Las Vegas. Being able to advance to Saturday means I have the possibility to fight just two more bulls to get that belt.”
Eight men will battle in the Wildcard. It will feature two four-man rounds, and the winners will then square off against each other. The winner will advance to the championship round and be part of a nine-man field, which will feature three rounds of three competitors. The top three will advance to the short round, and the top scorer in the final round will earn the BFO Las Vegas Championship belt.
“It’s amazing for a big hotel like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to back us like this and to set up a place on their property,” Schueth said. “It’s probably one of the funnest bullfights I’ve been to up to date.
Everybody pulled out the stops for this deal.
“You can tell everybody’s going to fight as hard for this, because everybody wants to be on top.”
His score on Thursday proved how much Schueth wants to take the title. It tied for the highest-marked fight of the first round, matching one exhibited by Weston Rutkowski on Wednesday.
“This is definitely a boost of confidence from how I did last week during the Roughy Cup,” said Schueth, who had a rough run of things in the opening round last Thursday. “To get around a bull like this is huge, but at the same time, you have to let go and focus on the next one. It’s going to be a totally different fight, because no two bulls are the same.
“This event could definitely boost me up out of fifth place and put me back in the hunt for the world title. That’s what we all want.”
Halfway to the title belt
First four have advanced to BFO Las Vegas Championship’s final day
LAS VEGAS – Weston Rutkowski was so focused on his bullfight Wednesday, he doesn’t recall a thing about it.
“I just blacked out and went into game mode,” said Rutkowski, who scored an 88.5-point fight during the first round of the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
It is the highest-marked fight so far in the opening round with the remaining four bouts scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Rutkowski is one of four men who advanced to Saturday’s championship round, joining Tate Rhoads, Kyle Lippincott and Daryl Thiessen.
While that foursome is set for the final-day battle, the other four will advance to Friday’s Wildcard Round, where just two will move on to the championship.
“I’m ecstatic to make it to Saturday,” Rutkowski said. “I came into this thing with the right mind and set to go to war, not just for today but for two more bulls in a few days.
“Last year I won the Roughy Cup, then I got beat in this round. There’s a lot of unfinished business right here.”
Rutkowski advanced in the tournament-style format by upending Jon Roberts, who had an 80.5-point score. Rhoads scored 83 points and moved on when his opponent, Wayne Ratley, was injured and couldn’t finish his fight. Lippincott scored an upset with an 82-point fight to beat Nathan Harp.
The tightest match of the opening day of the BFO Las Vegas Championship was between Nebraskan Zach Call and Thiessen, a Canadian. Both men scored 83 points, and it was to come down to a tie-breaker based on bullfighter score, which also was the same; Thiessen advanced via a coin flip.
“This is the BFO, where dreams become reality,” Thiessen said.
Not only is the event a series of head-to-head matches, it is truly a battle of man vs. beast. It is a dangerous dance in the dirt, and the proof came in Ratley’s fight. He took two severe hookings, with the second knocking him out of the competition. He is scheduled to fight in Friday’s Wildcard.
While that 88.5 was the best, the key is just having a better score than the other bullfighter.
“Points don’t mean anything,” Rutkowski said. “I still had to handle my bull to the best of my ability. I was very blessed with a good bull.
“Now I’m going to get ready for Saturday. I won’t be satisfied until it’s over with and I’m the champion.”
Tickets for the final three days of the competition are on sale now at www.HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.
Thiessen fighting for patriotism
Canadian excited for a shot at BFO Las Vegas Championship title
LAS VEGAS – Daryl Thiessen only thought he was done with freestyle bullfighting.
Whether he was tired or had lost focus, the Elm Creek, Manitoba, man thought his time in the bullfight arena was over. He was ready to move on and focus on protecting cowboys during bull ridings and rodeos and remove himself from the competitive side of his life.
“I went home, and I went to some rodeos and worked those,” he said. “When Fergie called me, I told him, ‘I ain’t into it.’ ”
Aaron Ferguson is a fellow Canadian bullfighter and is founder and CEO of Bullfighters Only. He understood Thiessen’s hesitance but reminded the young cowboy about the talent he possesses in his 6-foot-5-inch frame. He also reached into the inner core of who Daryl Thiessen is.
“That phone call got me back,” Thiessen said. “Seeing all those guys pave the way for the new age in the BFO and watching all the highlights, it crushed me that I wasn’t part of that, because I knew I had the talent to go there.”
Thiessen will be part of the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, set for Wednesday-Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. He advanced through the Pendleton Whisky Qualifier Round last week.
“Fergie said, ‘You’re the most patriotic Canadian I’ve ever met; freestyle bullfighting needs a Canadian to be the man and build the sport in Canada,” Thiessen recalled. “Honestly I get goose bumps thinking about being the Canadian representative to that.
“In a country with 36 million people, it’s great to think I’m the lone Canadian representative in the sport I love. To be able to represent Canada is the ultimate to me. I’d like nothing more than to go in there and win this deal. I want to show kids from Canada that you don’t have to stay in your little community or your little rodeo association; there is a living to be made out there doing something you love.”
Theissen’s been in love with the game a long time. He grew up loving rodeo, ever since he attended his first bull riding at age 4. He started riding cows and even tried his hand at riding broncs,
“I’m 6-foot-5, so I had a pretty big growth spurt,” he said. “I have a lot of background in hockey, so I thought I’d throw on some cleats and a cowboy hat and try the bullfighting deal. It just took off.”
Freestyle bullfighting is truly a man-vs.-beast sport with danger and excitement at every twist and turn. By reaching for glory, the men will step closely to peril. It’s a tight-rope walk for every man who does it, but that’s part of the draw. It’s exciting to be inches away from an athletic bull that is hell bent on running them down.
Thiessen has lived it and has loved it. Now he hopes to prove why he expects to be one of the best.
“I’ve got a second chance, and I understand that doesn’t happen for everyone,” Thiessen said. “I’m so focused and determined right now. I’ll never let that happen to me again.”
The BFO Las Vegas Championship is set for Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and
AXS.com.
Thiessen, Gidley advance
Two more bullfighters qualify for next week’s BFO Las Vegas Championship
LAS VEGAS – An unprecedented calm came over Daryl Thiessen on Saturday afternoon as he entered the bullfight arena.
“Today before I nodded my head, that’s the calmest I’ve ever been before a bullfight,” said Thiessen of Elm Creek, Manitoba. “That’s the first bullfight I’ve done in a long time where I can tell you everything that happened in it; it’s usually a blur for me, but I can remember all the details.”
He should. He matched moves with WAR Fighting Bulls’ Captain Hook for 80 points to win the first of two Bullfighters Only qualifiers. He was joined by Travis Gidley of Grandview, Texas, who scored 86.5 points while matching moves with WAR’s Punisher to win the second qualifier.
Now they will move on to fight at the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.
“I busted him down really good to start with, and he kind of ran off. I got his attention again, and then I just stayed with him,” Gidley said.
“I felt really good about my bullfight. It just all clicked there.”
Now both Thiessen and Gidley hope it clicks next week when they will be matched with the best freestyle bullfighters in the business during the BFO Las Vegas Championship, the richest freestyle bullfight in the sport’s history.
“Making it to next week means so much to me,” Thiessen said. “Just being a Canadian in this deal, I want to show these kids that they can come compete with anyone in the world. I want nothing more than to finish the job this year.”
Both men were in Las Vegas last December during the inaugural BFO event. Neither had the success they had hoped for 12 months ago, but they put in the work necessary to come out on top this weekend.
“I wasn’t prepared last year, so this year I came back both mentally and physically prepared for it,” Gidley said. “It’s a great feeling to advance. I don’t really have a game plan for my fights; I just want to beat my bull. I just go with the flow and deal with what I’ve got in front of me. Yes, these are the best bullfighters in the world, but I’m competing against my bull.”
That approach is the best tactic when an athlete is in the middle with a ferocious, aggressive animal that is bred for this type of fight. It takes a man who has a ton of self confidence to come within an inch or two of flying hooves and pointed horns.
“Everything just feels so good right now,” Thiessen said. “It just feels right this time. Before when I was here, my mind was blown. I was a guy from a small town in Canada, and I let the bright lights of Las Vegas get to me. It was overwhelming.
“This year I’ve stayed focused on what I need to do and have continued to work out every day.”
Now it’s time to transition it into the final four days at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“My confidence was pretty good, but winning today helps my confidence going into next week,” Gidley said. “It felt really awesome to make those step-throughs and get around that bull. I came in prepared and put on a good bullfight.”
Making the big move
Lippincott, Rhoads win qualifiers to advance to BFO Las Vegas Championship
LAS VEGAS – Tate Rhoads and Kyle Lippincott knew they needed to do something special during Friday’s Bullfighters Only qualifier if they were to advance to next week’s BFO Las Vegas Championship.
They did. Both men started their fights at the Las Vegas Convention Center with flat-footed jumps. It paid off as Rhoads won Round 1 with an 84-point fight with WAR Fighting Bulls Wicked Ways; Lippincott was 83.5 in his bout with WAR’s War Machine.
Now they will move on to fight at the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com. It will feature a $50,000 purse and also include two more qualifiers that will advance through competition that takes place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“A couple of buddies told me to go big or go home,” said Rhoads of Bighorn, Mont. “I just wanted to get that flat-footed jump right out of there, and he ended up smoking me in the knee. I got up and continued the fight. I got a little barrel hop at the end and sold the fight the way I needed to.”
It was a similar type fight for Lippincott, who cleared his jump cleanly, then ran into a little trouble midway through the bout.
“When I flat-footed him, he blew by,” said Lippincott of Wilson, Okla., who had to clear a fence in order to avoid trouble. “I have a tendency of using that fence, and I trap myself for some reason. It ticked me off, and I knew I had to go back harder to make up for it.”
Now he’ll be part of the first round of the tournament-style competition at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“Last year I came in the qualifier round as well and made it to the last day before I got beat,” Lippincott said. “To be in the championship to be able to play with everybody else is everything.
“My confidence has not been where it needed to be. Today it helped out, and my confidence is real high heading into the next round.”
It takes high levels of self-worth to be successful in freestyle bullfighting, where men face athletic and aggressive animals that have been bred for this kind of competition.
“It means the world to me to get this win,” Rhoads said. “My aunt and cousin were killed in a tragic car accident a couple weeks ago, and I wanted to come out here and do this for them.
“It’s unreal that I get to do this, and I can’t even put it into words.”
Part of it is just being part of the top freestyle bullfighting organization in the world.
“There’s no other organization out there that’s growing freestyle bullfighting so fast,” he said. “It’s unreal to be out here and to be part of this.”
That includes next weekend’s purse of $50,000, which helps make the BFO Las Vegas Championship the richest bullfight in the sport’s history.
“Bullfighters Only has created a brand that allows guys to be showy and try to make freestyle bullfighting better,” Lippincott said. “Now we’re fighting for a certain title. That is something that’s special in the BFO.”
Rutkowski takes Roughy Cup
Texas man moves into the lead in the Bullfighters Only world standings
LAS VEGAS – It’s one down, one to go for Weston Rutkowski, who put on two strong bullfights Thursday afternoon to win the Roughy Cup for the second straight year.
“This is a two-step process,” Rutkowski said, referring to the two major bullfights that are part of the Bullfighters Only tour taking place in Las Vegas this December. “Step one is down, and now we move on to the next step. I’ve not lost sight of the prize, and the prize is winning both of them.”
He and the other top 11 bullfighters will now advance to next week’s BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com. It will feature a $50,000 purse and also include four qualifiers that will advance through competition that takes place at 3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Roughy Cup was a four-round bullfight with the winners of each round advancing to the championship. Rutkowski, of Haskell, Texas, advanced out of the third set by posting an 86-point score. He was joined in the short round by Zach Call of Mullen, Neb., who won the opening round with an 82.5; Erick Schwindt of Lyons, Ore., who was 82 to win Round 4; and Nathan Harp of Tuttle, Okla., who posted an 89-point bullfight to win the second round, advancing through a tie-breaker after matching the same score posted by Wayne Ratley of Pauls Valley, Okla.
Then in the final round, Rutkowski put on a show with 12X and Costa Fighting Bulls’ Spitfire; the two athletes battled in the arena dirt for 93.5 points. For the victory, he pocketed $6,000 which moved him to the top spot on the money list in the race toward the world championship, the sport’s first true world title in more than 16 years.
“We’re not done yet,” he said.
He owns a lead of more than $3,000 over the No. 2 man, Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo., and has a chance to pad his lead next week at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. But he kicked off the BFO competition during a stellar contest Thursday afternoon.
“That’s the BFO’s pride and joy,” Rutkowski said. “It’s not just one great guy. We’ve got the 12 best freestyle bullfighters in the world going head to head. Each guy stepping into this arena is here to win. They’re here to take the big money.”
He captured the biggest payday because of the battle between he and Spitfire. On the bull’s initial move out of the chute, Rutkowski jumped the animal, which clipped the inside of the bullfighter’s leg. He hit the dirt but got right back up and took the fight to the bull.
A few seconds later, Rutkowski was caught under the bull, between the horns and the animal’s front right leg, As other bullfighters jumped into the arena to divert the bull’s attention, the Texan scrambled back to his feet and finished the fight strong.
“That big bull can hurt you when you’re down,” he said. “Luckily my boys were there to take care of me and get him off me and allow me to get back up and get back to work. This is a 60-second bullfight; just because he gets you down in 20 (seconds) doesn’t mean it’s over. You’ve got more time to finish. You’ve just got to keep your cool and your wits about you, and that goes back to putting in the work before you get here.
“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. I’m lucky enough to pull off the game-winner right off the bat.”
North, bound for BFO Las Vegas
The BFO's top barrelman set for 8th Bullfighters Only appearance of the 2016
LAS VEGAS – The currents that sweep through the river of a freestyle bullfighting arena can be fast and swift.
When in control, the men in the battle can maneuver the rapids well and avoid the jagged rocks. But the bulls can come in on a rush and overtake the situation, and the paddles that propel the bullfighters can be lost in the torrent.
Andy North is the life raft that comes in at the right place and the right time, bringing everything into safety. He’s the barrelman for the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 1-3 and 7-10 in Las Vegas.
“My sole purpose is to provide protection for the bullfighters,” said North of Piedmont, Okla. “I’m out there to help position the barrel in the arena during the bullfight. Whenever I see a guy in trouble, I have to anticipate where and when the wreck is going to happen.”
The festivities kick off at 2 p.m. Dec. 1st at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the BFO Roughy Cup, a 12-man invitational bullfight. Then on Dec. 2-3, up-and-coming bullfighters will battle to qualify for the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.
“When they asked me to be part of that, it was very meaningful to me,” said North, who spent seven years as a freestyle bullfighter before transitioning to the barrel. “It’s pretty special when you have that group of guys who want you to do it.”
He’s earned the right. He worked seven BFO bullfights this year, including the Cavender’s Cup, which was just the second stand-alone event in Bullfighters Only history.
“I like to think what sets me apart is my ability to anticipate where those guys are going to need me and knowing when I need to be there,” he said. “I don’t want to jump in too early and disrupt a good fight, and I don’t want to get in there too late.”
That’s why his role is so important to the bullfighters. They can utilize the barrel during the fight, and they know the life raft is just steps away if they are swimming for safety. While that’s vital, the best part of the job comes with his vantage point.
"Andy is as good of a barrelman as there's ever been. No different from the bullfighters in the BFO, we want to showcase the top talent in the industry," commented Ross Hill, the #2 contender heading into BFO Las Vegas.
“I have the best seat in the house,” North said. “I’m right there with those guys, and I get to see and experience their bullfights with them. It doesn’t have to be a hellacious barrel save. What I like most is getting to witness something glorious, being part of it and being close to it.
“I think the BFO is doing a good job with the product they put out. There’s a lot of excitement with Bullfighters Only, and I enjoy working them.”
Freestyle bullfighting has been around for years, but Bullfighters Only has marketed and produced the game to expand interest in it. It’s working. The Las Vegas events will serve as the one-year anniversary of the first BFO fights, so the interest is there.
Additionally, and maybe more importantly, this year the BFO will crown the first true freestyle bullfighting world champion in more than 16 years.
“People will be on the edge of their seats,” North said. “For somebody that’s never seen it, it’s so fast and so electric. It’s action-packed. There’s part of it that’s unknown, and you don’t realize how quickly things can go south. I think that keeps you involved and ready for anything.”
It gets even bigger in the City of Lights. Las Vegas is well known for having world-class bouts. Now Bullfighters Only is producing another world-class fight for all to see.
“That money’s big,” North said of the $50,000 purse. “I think the location is a big thing. The venues are awesome. Being the time of year – during the same two weeks as the National Finals Rodeo – is one of those things that makes it a true highlight. Everybody’s going to come in and be ready to go.
“Being in Vegas at that time pushes everything up. It’s better. When you look at the lineup of bullfighters, those guys aren’t messing around. They’re bringing in some guys that will straight up get after it. I like watching the quality of bullfighting that’s going to be there.”
So will everyone else that makes it part of their time in Las Vegas.
Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com.
Bringing the heat to Vegas
Stock contractors excited to be part of BFO’s Las Vegas Championship
LAS VEGAS – Darrell Diefenbach may have hung up his cleats but when he saw an opportunity to be involved in Bullfighters Only, he jumped at it.
Deifenbach has been face to face with some of the nastiest bucking bulls in rodeo, but now he’s in the fighting bull business. He and his partners - Maunel Costa and Trever Hamsher - have some of the best bulls in the business.
Only the best will be in Las Vegas. 12X & Costa will be joined by fellow stock contractors War Fighting Bulls and Hall & Nunez Fighting Bulls, both from Texas. The three firms will supply upwards of 90 bulls during the Bullfighters Only’s Las Vegas Championships, set for Dec. 1-3 and 7-10.
“Bullfighters Only speaks for itself,” said Diefenbach, an Australian turned American, now living in Hermiston, Ore. “It’s taken off by leaps and bounds. I love extreme sports, and I have seen the way extreme sports have taken off.
“I think the timing of the BFO is perfect. There’s nothing more extreme than a 1,200-pound bull in the mix. That’s what makes bullfighting attractive. You never know who’s going to win, the bull or the guy.”
It’s either a heck of a wreck or a whale of a score, and that is a driving force behind both Extreme Sports fans and rodeo fans alike. It’s what’s attractive about having Bullfighters Only as part of the Las Vegas landscape in early December.
“What’s not to like about this?” said Chase Love, owner of WAR Fighting Bulls. “You’ve got a group of guys that are bringing the hottest bulls we can bring against the best bullfighters that have ever walked.”
In a man-vs.-beast competition, the bulls have a lot of say in what happens inside the pen. With scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
“With the bulls we’ll have in Las Vegas, if a guy can get around them, they’ll be 90 points,” Love said. “If they can’t, it’s going to hurt.”
The festivities kick off at 2 p.m. Dec. 1st at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the BFO Roughy Cup, a 12-man invitational bullfight. Then on Dec. 2-3, up-and-coming bullfighters will battle to qualify for the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.
While the seven days of bullfighting will feature outstanding bovine athletes, there are some that are the cream of the crop.
“The hottest bull we have might be Zombie Express,” Love said. “He’s real short and muscled; he’s just the opposite of scary looking, but he’s a bad dude. We also have a blue ball called Wolverine, Simply Wicked and Chute Boss, and they’re all premier bulls.”
Diefenbach also has a solid top-flight team of bulls, from Spitfire to Naked and Afraid to 21 Jump Street.
“They’re all very good bulls,” Diefenbach said. “Spitfire is a dangerous bull, very mean, and Naked and Afraid is definitely building a big reputation. We also have Little Foot, a little black bull of Manuel’s. He’s everything a fighting bull should be, and we have a bunch of Little Foot brothers.”
It not only makes for phenomenal competition, but the Las Vegas Championship will be a true showcase befitting the city.
“I think everything exciting and extreme should be in Vegas,” said Diefenbach, who was selected to fight bulls at the National Finals Rodeo 12 times in his career. “The town has the hype, the atmosphere. People love Vegas. There are so many events going on, and I think Las Vegas and Bullfighters Only are a match made in heaven.”
Both Diefenbach and Love got into the fighting bull business because of Bullfighters Only. It is allowing both men and their associates to expand on their businesses.
“I buy and sell bucking bulls and haul bulls all over,” Love said. “When we saw what the BFO had, we jumped head first into it, and it just exploded. It’s pretty dang cool.
“I made 10 to 15 calls a day and was getting nowhere. I got ahold of Manuel Costa, and he helped me do all the dirty work. He sent me a text about midnight on a Saturday night, and by Sunday night we were on the road to California. We ended up with 30 bulls from that trip.”
Costa was also instrumental for Diefenbach, which is why the retired bullfighter extended the partnership to the bull man.
“There’s really nobody up here in the Northwest with fighting bulls, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to get on the contract side of the business,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of outs on our bulls up here. We’ve traveled as far as Wyoming and Nevada, and we have a lot of events.”
Now he’ll add Vegas to his list.
“We’re ready for freestyle bullfighting to return; everybody’s ready for it,” Diefenbach said. “Nobody wants to see a wreck, but if there is one, nobody wants to miss it.”
While he focused more on cowboy protection, Diefenbach has high admiration for men who tangle with fighting bulls.
“These bullfighters are 10 times the athlete that I ever was,” he said. “That’s what makes BFO so great. We have the greatest bullfighters exclusive to Bullfighters Only.
“We have, bar none, the best fighting bulls going too. That’s a great mix.”
Earning their right to fight
Bullfighters Only qualifying event opens the door for the sport’s rising stars
LAS VEGAS – There’s something special that happens when athletes reach toward their championship dreams.
That’s the case for 12 men who will do be part of the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship qualifier round, set for 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“It still seems surreal,” said Daryl Thiessen of Elm Creek, Manitoba. “We’re going to Las Vegas with $50,000 up for grabs. If you would’ve told me that it was possible two years ago, I would’ve probably laughed at you.”
It’s no laughing matter. The bullfighters will battle for four remaining spots in the BFO Las Vegas Championship, set for Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets for that are on sale now at AXS.com.
Thiessen will be joined in the qualifier by Ross Johnson, Dakota Knight, Erick Schwindt, Arron Reemer, Jon Roberts, Travis Gidley, Tate Rhoads, Kyle Lippincott, Blake Miller, Bryce Redo and Judd Napier. Four bullfighters will advance and be part of the mix that features the top 12 men in the BFO, all of whom received a bye into the second weekend.
The opportunities in Las Vegas are as grand as the city itself. The BFO Las Vegas Championship will be the richest event in freestyle bullfighting history.
“It’s the biggest bullfight ever as far as payout, and I’m just happy to tag along. It’s setting the stage for a whole new level,” said Johnson of Merit, Texas. “It’s going to be a really good deal.”
Bullfighters Only has changed the face of freestyle bullfighting and brought it back into the mainstream. It’s a man-vs.-beast battle filled with danger as the bullfighters test their athleticism against aggressive and equally athletic bulls.
“There is no better extreme sport than freestyle bullfighting,” said Knight of Lebo, Kan. “I’ve always been an adrenaline junky. There is incredible adrenaline when that 1,200-pound animal comes at you and wants to kill you, and I’m able to control him and make him do what I want him to do. It’s action-packed.”
These men have earned the right to be part of the mix. They will have to further prove themselves inside the Convention Center in order to advance to the BFO Las Vegas Championship.
“It was unexpected, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to get to fight bulls in Vegas,” Knight said. “I’m still a young guy trying to get my career going. By being invited in there, I get the chance to fight bulls right next to my idols.”
That’s just part of the honor for the men in the qualifier. The opportunity is grand, but so is the talent in the mix. It’s what will make for amazing competition.
“I love the whole stage of freestyle bullfighting,” Johnson said. “It’s 60 seconds with you and one bull, and it’s the fact that by the end of the fight, one of you is going to know who won.”
Though it’s only a minute, freestyle is intense and magnificent. Done well, it’s like a dance in the dirt; if things go wrong, the chances of a big wreck increase mightily. It takes stamina, guts and pure will to come out victorious.
Every man in the field has been preparing for this opportunity, whether through regular workouts or through added cardio exercises. For Thiessen, he’s working out twice a day to get his mind and body ready for the fights ahead, training in Montana with fellow BFO bullfighter Nate Jestes, who will make his first WNFR appearance in the Thomas & Mack Arena this December.
“I need to understand that I’m here because of what I’ve done,”Thiessen said. “For the first time in my life, I believe in myself.”
That confidence is a major factor in any man’s success, and it takes great inner strength to tangle with the beast. It’s just another reason why freestyle bullfighting is a true spectator’s sport.
QUALIFIER CONTESTANTS
DEC. 2
Ross Johnson
Tate Rhoads
Dakota Knight
Kyle Lippincott
Blake Miller
Bryce Redo
DEC. 3
Erick Schwindt
Jon Roberts
Daryl Thiessen
Travis Gidley
Judd Napier
Arron Reemer
BFO’s best ready for Vegas
The top bullfighters in the sport will be part of seven days of world-class action
LAS VEGAS – Last December, the inaugural Bullfighters Only competition in Las Vegas was a skyrocketing success. Now the world’s best bullfighters are upping the ante Vegas style with seven days of world-class action.
Bullfighters Only recently announced the 12 man BFO Roughy Cup roster who will receive an automatic bye to the BFO Las Vegas Championship at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Weston Rutkowski, Ross Hill, Chuck Swisher, Nathan Harp, Schell Apple, Cody Greer, Beau Schueth, Toby Inman, Zach Call, Cody Emerson, Tanner Zarnetski, Wayne Ratley comprise the all-star cast of athletes.
“When we had crowds packed in at 9 in the morning, it showed us that we had something special last year,” said Weston Rutkowski, the third-ranked man in the Bullfighters Only standings from Haskell, Texas. “Now that this is our second year in Vegas, the hype and anticipation is even bigger.”
The competition kicks off at 2 p.m. Dec. 1-3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the BFO Roughy Cup, a 12-man invitational bullfight. Then on Dec. 2-3, up-and-coming bullfighters will battle to qualify for the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The 12 qualifier contestants will be announced later this week.
“This is another huge milestone for Bullfighters Only and freestyle bullfighting,” said Chuck Swisher, the 10th-ranked bullfighter in the world standings from Dover, Okla. “It's is going to be the richest freestyle bullfight ever. This is huge.”
The opening weekend at the Convention Center is free as a part of Las Vegas Events’ Cowboy Christmas. The final four days of action will be in a new climate-controlled tent on the west side of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com.
“This is our chance to really put a stamp on who we are as the BFO,” said Ross Hill, the No. 4 man in the standings from. “This is our opportunity to show what Bullfighters Only is all about. We are putting freestyle bullfighting on a higher platform again.”
It takes a strong work ethic mixed with amazing talent and true grit to tangle with bulls that possess such speed, power and agility. The bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to “dance” across the arena floor with a partner that is bred to be in attack mode. When the bull is “hot” and on target, the danger is greater, but so are the opportunities to showcase some magnificent skills.
“It’s not just the top guys that are doing things in the BFO,” Hill said. “The fun thing is whether it’s the top five or the bottom five, anybody can come out and win this on any day. It’s about having to do bigger tricks. It’s fun knowing that every person on that roster can beat you any given day.”
In the year since that inaugural Roughy Cup, Bullfighters Only has experienced rapid growth and is in the midst of its first full season of more than 30 events from coast to coast. It’s been a year-long battle that will culminate in the crowning the first freestyle bullfighting world champion in nearly two decades.
Dollars equal points, and all that is gathered in Las Vegas will go toward that championship - another major reason that Vegas is a big stop on the BFO tour.
“The money is huge for us, but people really want to see freestyle bullfighting,” said Swisher, who has been working diligently to return to competition after suffering a torn ACL this past summer. “It's one of the most underrated sports, and since Bullfighters Only brought freestyle bullfighting back, people realize that.
“The bulls are going to be the best going down the road,” Swisher said. “You’re going to have the 90-point bullfights, you’ll have the near misses and also the hookings. It’s a game of inches.”
Those inches are the difference between agony and ecstasy, but they’re exactly what the best bullfighters in the world crave.
ROUGHY CUP CONTESTANTS
Weston Rutknowski
Ross Hill
Chuck Swisher
Nathan Harp
Schell Apple
Cody Greer
Beau Schueth
Toby Inman
Zach Call
Cody Emerson
Tanner Zarnetski
Wayne Ratley
BFO stepping up in Vegas
Bullfighters Only adds four-day Las Vegas Championship to its schedule
LAS VEGAS, NV – Bullfighters Only (BFO) will present the world’s top freestyle bullfighters at two sites in Las Vegas this December, highlighted by the Las Vegas Championship inside a climate-controlled tent at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets to the BFO Las Vegas Championship go on sale November 8th at Noon CST at hardrockhotel.com & AXS.com.
This year’s Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship will be the highest payout in freestyle bullfighting history with more than $50,000 up for grabs. There will be seven days of the top bullfighters in the world going head-to-head against the most aggressive fighting bulls in the country.
The festivities kick off at 2 p.m. Dec. 1-3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the BFO Roughy Cup, a 12-man invitational bullfight. On Dec. 2nd and 3rd, up-and-coming bullfighters will battle to qualify for the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The 12 men selected for the BFO Roughy Cup have earned a bye into the final weekend, where only four men will advance out of the qualifying rounds.
“The Cowboy Christmas event created a tremendous amount of buzz last year,” said Aaron Ferguson, founder and CEO of the BFO. “Las Vegas Events does an amazing job bringing the NFR Experience to life, and we’re thrilled to be involved once again in 2016.”
“We’re doing it up bigger and better than ever,” Ferguson said. “Plus, the new set-up at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will allow us to produce a live show that is second to none.”
The BFO Las Vegas Championship performances at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino are set for Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Saturday, Dec. 10th.
The opening two days will feature eight head-to-head, tournament-style matches, with the winners advancing to the final rounds, set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. The others will advance to the Wild Card round, which takes place at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9. Only one bullfighter from the Wild Card round will move into the finale.
At 1:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, BFO will pilot a first of its kind live-show experience.
“BFO fans have really taken to our Bullfighters Only ‘Sessions’ videos, so we decided to turn it into a live show,” Ferguson said. “The Sessions are all about progression and one-upping each other. Fans will get to see the world’s top bullfighters re-invent the sport one bull at a time. It’s going to be high energy, interactive and educational with a very different vibe than your typical rodeo or bull riding.”
For more information visit www.bullfightersonly.com/las-vegas.
Inman earns Sioux Falls crown
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Toby Inman couldn’t remember exactly the last time he won a freestyle bullfight.
He won’t have that problem anymore after his Bullfighters Only performance on Friday and Saturday during the Sioux Falls Premier Rodeo. He posted the highest score of the weekend on opening night with an 89-point fight while dancing with War Fighting Bulls’ Ghost Face. He followed that with a solid 84 on Saturday to earn the event title with a cumulative score of 173 points on two fights.
“Friday night was a big deal to me, because I had a good bull, I cracked out and enjoyed it,” said Inman of Davis Junction, Ill. “My Saturday night wasn’t so great, but Friday night was something I needed.
“That was one that you could enjoy. I had a good bull that was on me the whole time, and I had a good time. It was fantastic.”
It was. The 89 is one of the highest scores of the inaugural Bullfighters Only season. Inman started by jumping Ghost Face, then threw in a couple of strong fakes that sent the bull sliding past. He made a few rounds, turning his back to the animal and showing great control. He finished the fight with a fake that dropped both him and the bull to their knees.
It was a true showcase of Inman’s abilities, even though it’s just the third bullfight he’s competed over the last five years.
“I would say the first two bullfights, I was still trying to figure everything out,” he said. “Being in a good arena with a big crowd was definitely great. When you call for the bull, all that noise goes away and it doesn’t matter. It’s just you and the bull.
“Once I hit that jump, the rest of it was perfect.”
It was a weekend filled with exceptional talent, with Inman and Ross Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala., serving as the veterans and 20-year-old Dakota Knight of Lebo, Kan., bringing a fresh face to the game. While Inman won the average title, Hill and Knight split the final-night victory with 86.5 points each.
“It was a big deal to me,” Knight said. “I watched these guys compete all year, and I kept telling myself how much I’d like to be up there in the big leagues. I was tickled to death to be in the arena with Ross Hill and Toby Inman. It was overwhelming to be under the big lights with those guys.”
Knight is a second-generation bullfighter who got his start at a very young age. He followed his dad around the rodeo trail and had several opportunities to refine his game at a young age.
“I had always wanted to do it, and I had done a little when I was a little kid,” he said. “They had a little calf, and I’d freestyle him during the performance. It’s something that I had an opportunity to do ever since I stepped into that arena, and I haven’t left.”
His talent showed in Sioux Falls.
“The atmosphere was awesome, and the crowd was really loud,” Knight said. “I’ve never been in front of anything like that before; it was really exciting. They were really excited and were really cheering, and I just kept driving because they kept wanting me to do more.”
It served as the perfect setting for a brilliant night of Bullfighters Only.
RESULTS
Night 1
1. Toby Inman, 89 points
2. Ross Hill, 82.5
3. Dakota Knight, 80.5
Night 2
1. Ross Hill and Dakota Knight, 86.5 points
3. Toby Inman, 84
Average
1. Toby Inman, 173 points on two fights
2. Ross Hill, 169
3. Dakota Knight, 167
Returning to bullfighting roots
Hill beats adversity to battle for in front of Sutton, who developed freestyle bullfighting
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In all his years as a bullfighter, Ross Hill has had his share of adversity.
He’s at it again, and he’s trying to show adversity who is boss.
He took a direct shot to the back right after calling for his bull during the Bullfighters Only event in Lewiston, Idaho, last weekend and suffered a dislocated knee.
“I got up and finished the fight,” said Hill, 33, of Muscle Shoals, Ala. “I just did it one-legged.”
He will take that grit and determination to the Bullfighters Only tour stop in conjunction with the Sioux Falls Premier Rodeo, set for Friday and Saturday at the Denny Sanford Center. Hill might need every ounce of it to come away with the title at one of the last events on the BFO’s inaugural season.
The incident happened when Hill attempted a selfie fake, where he starts the fight with his back to the bull coming out of the chute and watches the bull charging at him with the phone camera as his guide. The bull connected with a mighty blow instead.
Just a few days later, Hill returned to the arena during the BFO event in Pendleton, Ore., and performed well.
“I had two taped knees and was really sore,” he said. “I handled my bull. He didn’t read one of my fakes, and he hooked me and got me down. I got up and finished him, and we sold a bunch of tickets.”
That’s a sentiment that showcased just how exciting the fight was for the fans. He hopes to treat the fans in Sioux Falls, albeit in a different manner.
“There’s a lot of adversity in our sport,” Hill said. “I believe in the top 15 guys that we’ve got. It’s been a dream of mine all my life. I’ve never really gotten a shot to run at a real season on tour.”
He does now, thanks to Bullfighters Only. In fact, he sits fourth in the standings. He was originally scheduled to compete at another event this weekend, but he opted to make his way to Sioux Falls instead.
“When we represent the Bullfighters Only, we represent not just ourselves but the best of the best,” Hill said. “As a brand-builder, as a shareholder and as a true supporter of Bullfighters Only, I felt like it was best for my future.
“It’s setting up every bullfighter that wants to be a great for in the future as well. For me not being there, I’m just not doing the Bullfighters Only justice.”
It’s nothing new to rodeo. In fact, Jim Sutton of Sutton Pro Rodeo – which produces the Sioux Falls rodeo – developed the sport 37 years ago.
“We were in the third year of the (Rapid City, S.D.) Stock Show and Rodeo that year, and we were struggling,” Sutton said of his decision to showcase freestyle bullfighting. “We started that bullfight, and it was an instant success. In two years, we doubled our crowd. Every year we had it, it just got bigger.”
The BFO has created a public demand for the sport, and Sutton recognized that. It’s one of the reasons why he sees the need to have it return to Sioux Falls.
“I was just trying to figure out a way to build the Rapid City Stock Show Rodeo,” Sutton said. “That did more for me than anything I’ve done. The bullfight has dang sure helped along the way.”
Nobody understands that more than Hill, who makes his living facing the danger and excitement – and possible joint dislocation – that comes with chasing his bullfighting dreams.
“I’m excited about this tour,” Hill said. “We have undoubtedly the best guys on tour, and some of those are my best friends and peers, guys that I have mentored and that have mentored me.
“Jim Sutton invented freestyle bullfighting. He’s the guy that came up with the sport. It’s going to be an honor to step in and to see how his sport has progressed since he started it.”
CONTESTANTS
Ross Hill
Toby Inman
Dakota Knight
Allard overcomes injury to win at Pendleton
PENDLETON, Ore. – When his good friend Cody Greer was hooked to the ground, Evan Allard jumped in to help.
That’s what bullfighters do when one of their own is in trouble, but it took a toll on Allard, who had yet to compete during the Bullfighters Only tour stop in conjunction with the Pendleton Roundup, which took place Monday and Tuesday in Happy Canyon.
“I messed up my rib when Cody got hooked,” said Allard of Vinita, Okla. “It roughed up my ribs, so I was hurting when it came time for me to fight my bull.”
It worked out pretty well for the Oklahoma man, who posted an 86-point fight Tuesday night to win the Pendleton title. He edged out Dusty Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyo., and Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas, both of whom posted 85.5-point bouts on Monday – Tuckness earned second place by the tie-breaker, which referred back to the highest bullfighter score.
“I’d seen Cody Webster win the round in Caldwell (Idaho) on that bull,” said Allard, who matched each step with 12x and Costa Fighting Bulls’ Little Foot in Pendleton. “I knew all three of those bulls out (Tuesday) were Spaniard brothers, and I knew they’d be pretty hot. Good or bad, I knew they’d for sure come for the fight.”
That was the case with Little Foot. Allard threw a couple of strong fakes, and the bull drove past. Then the bullfighter made a round with Little Foot before the animal made his way to the barrel, plowing it end over end.
“I knew I was probably going to use the barrel more because I was hurt,” he said. “When he left me and went to the barrel, that just set me up for it.”
He worked the barrel well, then pulled Little Foot away for a couple more fakes, then returned to the barrel. He worked it masterfully to close out the fight and claim the crown.
“It was pretty important to get that win,” said Allard, who has been among the top 10 in the Bullfighters Only standings much of the season. “I needed a win. I’ve had a pretty rough last month or so. I’ve been hooked a bunch, in the arena and in the back pens. I took a nasty hooking at Caldwell and another one in Arlington, Minn., so I needed this.
“It’s been a few months since I won a BFO.”
Of course, winning an event that is tied to such a historic rodeo as the Pendleton Roundup is another feather in the bullfighter’s cap.
“It was an awesome atmosphere and an awesome setup,” he said of the Happy Canyon arena. “The town of Pendleton means a lot to the rodeo industry. For us to get to bring the bullfights there, and for me to win it, was pretty awesome.”
RESULTS
1. Evan Allard, 86 points
2. Dusty Tuckness, 85.5
3. Weston Rutkowski, 85.5
(Weston earns second based on the tie-breaker, which reflected the bullfighter's score)
Schueth, Josey win in Arlington
ARLINGTON, Minn. – It’s only fitting that an event set up to benefit a charity would have multiple champions.
The Pro Auto NYA Bull Riding event also featured a two-night stop of the Bullfighters Only tour, with three men competing in freestyle bullfights both Friday and Saturday. Beau Schueth posted the highest-marked score of the weekend with an 85-point fight on the opening night, then Justin Josey survived the final night to win it.
“It meant a lot to us to be part of that because it was for the wounded warriors and benefitted that,” said Josey, 21, of Apache, Okla.
The Arlington stop is part of a fundraiser for the charity of retired NFL player Jared Allen, Homes for Wounded Warriors. The organization helps to build handicapped assessable homes for wounded soldiers that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“My bull came out but wasn’t as hot as I wanted him to be,” Josey said, pointing out that he needed to have a bull that stayed close to him to get a higher score. “The big thing for me was that I was able to stay on my feet. That was probably the difference.”
In fact, his fellow bullfighters on Saturday night were Evan Allard of Vinita, Okla., and Toby Inman of Davis Junction, Ill., and both were hooked and taken down during the contest. Josey, though, was able to match moves with Hookin’ A Ranch’s Stone Sober to score 79 points.
“That bull did enough for me to get the win,” he said. “It felt really good to finally get a win underneath me. You feel like you can do about anything. It’s like going on a hitting streak in baseball. When you’re in that zone, you can see the ball like it’s as big as a volleyball. When you’re not, it looks more like a ping-pong ball.”
That’s about how things are going for Schueth, who just a month ago won the Bullfighters Only stop in Sikeston, Mo.
“I knew I had drawn a good bull,” he said of Hookin’ A’s Claud Dallas, the same bull that helped Weston Rutkowski post the highest-marked fight in Sikeston and guided Ross Johnson to the victory in Burlington, Colo. “I’d seen him a couple times and knew he was really good. Being the first guy out, I knew I had to push in on him because I had Zach Call and Cody Greer in my group, and I knew they could be a lot of points.
“That bull came out really hot and never really did give me much space. I just kept switching it up on him. He finally left me and went into the muddy part of the arena out by the turn-back fence. I waited on the hard ground and got him to come back. I made some rounds on him and got one more fake on him and called the fight.”
It was an amazing way to open the bullfights in Arlington, a town of just a couple thousand people about 60 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
“The crowd was really into it and really behind it,” Josey said. “They finally got to experience freestyle bullfighting first-hand, and they really enjoyed it.”
So did Josey.
“I think it just boosts your confidence even more to know you can win a round against Evan, who is ninth in the BFO standings, and Toby, who has been around the world fighting bulls,” he said. “To go against somebody like that and come out on top is what makes it really cool.”
Confidence is a key for any bullfighter, who makes a living staring danger in the face and having the athleticism to get around it.
“This helps me out a lot,” said Schueth, 24, of O’Neill, Neb. “Every win boosts your confidence a little bit, but it also makes you want to compete even harder at the next fight. You want to keep that streak going.”
RESULTS
Night 1
1. Beau Schueth, 85 points
2. Zach Call, 80
3. Cody Greer, 76
Night 2
1. Justin Josey, 70 points
2. Toby Inman, 76
3. Evan Allard, 71
Jestes returns to top spot
Wyoming man moves to No. 1 by winning Bullfighters Only stop at Lewiston Roundup
LEWISTON, Idaho – Nate Jestes likes to take on a little work before he has some fun.
It’s an approach that has worked well for him during this inaugural Bullfighters Only season, and he proved it again over the weekend during the BFO tour event in conjunction with the Lewiston Roundup. Jestes was one of the protection bullfighters during the rodeo, then was part of the freestyle bullfight directly afterward.
“By working the protection side, it gets me to where I’m moving around the bulls and reading the bulls before I ever move over to the freestyle bullfight,” said Jestes, who posted an 88.5-point fight with 12x and Costa’s Anger Management to win the title.
By earning the Lewiston crown, he added $3,500 to his season earnings and returned to the No. 1 spot in the Bullfighters Only standings with $22,575. He owns a $1,838 lead over the No. 2 man, former leader Cody Webster of Wayne, Okla.
Throw in Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Okla., and Ross Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala., and it’s been a solid race for the top of the leaderboard much of the season.
“That has been fun,” said Jestes, who held the top spot for much of the season after winning The American in Arlington, Texas, in the spring. “With the bullfighting tour being absent for 16 years and this being the first actual tour of scheduled events, it’s been a great thing to see.
“To be able to have a standings and watch the race is outstanding. For so many years, there was never a true standings. It makes it fun when you go to events. To be able to have that incentive behind each bullfight is cool, too. It adds a twist to things.”
Jestes went through several twists and turns of his own during his bout with Anger Management, a little red bull that proved to be solid.
“He wasn’t crazy rank, and there were better bulls that poked their head out of a gate,” he said of the bull. “I had a middle-of-the-road bull, and I know I’d have to push on that bull to keep him fighting. I think I was able to draw a few more points out of him in the way I fought him. I had to go on the offense just to get a couple more points there.”
It worked well. Jestes threw several fakes at Anger Management, then lined out a jump before closing out the fight with a solid fake.
“The crowd absolutely loved the bullfight,” he said. “That crowd was really loud. That crowd not only saw some really good bullfights, but they saw some really good hookings, too. They loved the whole thing.”
So did Jestes, who returned to the top of the game.
RESULTS
1. Nate Jestes, 88.5 points
2. Cade Burns, 85
3. Weston Rutkowski, 82
4. Ross Hill, 78
5. Erick Schwindt, 77
6. Ross Johnson, 0
Finding that snapshot moment
Bullfighters Only to add to event that benefits Homes for Wounded Warriors charity
ARLINGTON, Minn. – Snapshots fill Justin Josey’s mind every time he competes.
The images are clear, whether they’re of a bull’s horn missing his leg by millimeters or the animal’s neck brushing against his side as it whisks past.
They’re what drive the young man, who will be one of five that will be part of the Bullfighters Only tour stop in conjunction with the Pro Auto NYA Bull Riding event.
“It’s the pictures in my head that I have when I’m fighting a bull,” said Josey, 21, of Apache, Okla. “It’s slow motion to me. I have those pictures, and the rest is kind of a blur.
“I guess there’s an adrenaline rush behind it. They’re just small parts of it that you enjoy.”
The Arlington stop is part of a fundraiser for the charity of retired NFL player Jared Allen, Homes for Wounded Warriors. The organization helps to build handicapped assessable homes for wounded soldiers that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“This happens in my hometown, and my brother is on the (Sibley County) Fair Board,” said Matt Scharping, a bucking bull stock contractor who produces the event. “When they asked me to put on a bull riding, I told them I’d do it as long as we could raise money for charity.”
It’s worked. Now preparing for its fourth year, the event has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Homes for Wounded Warriors through portions of ticket sales and through nightly live auctions. This year he wanted to add to the bull riding, so he sought out the men from Bullfighters Only to add to the flavor of the event.
“I’ve seen it, and I just loved watching it,” Scharping said. “It’s something new and fresh. I got to watching how the fans reacted to these events, how the bull riders and the contractors were enjoying it. I think this is something that will help us bring new fans to our event because it’s so much fun to watch.”
Just as the events in Arlington are to raise money for a good cause, Bullfighters Only has created public demand for the sport. The bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which are bred specifically for this type of fight.
“It’s a really good movement that we have, especially considering it’s been more than 15 years since the Wrangler Bullfights were popular,” Josey said. “Being part of something that’s affecting change so positively is really cool. Thinking about the things you are doing for freestyle bullfighting is a great thing. It’s humbling and exhausting at the same time, but it’s always great.
“This is all of us in the top 15 that have just bonded together, and now we’re trying to make things happen. We’re trying to bring freestyle bullfighting back to what we think the sport is like.”
“We all love freestyling bulls, and that’s why we do it,” Josey said.
That love affair has carried over into Bullfighters Only, which is now closing out its inaugural season of breathtaking competition.
“You can see how far it’s come in a short time,” he said. “I think the most exciting aspect of this is the transformation of freestyle bullfighting.
“Now we have bullfighting year-round, and we’ve had events all summer. As freestyle bullfighters, we’ve never had that opportunity before. We have momentum, and we’ve done the things that let people know we’re here to stay.”
That’s something that Josey hopes for his own career, which began just three years ago. He learned about bullfighting in the summer of 2013 when he served as a driver and helper for rodeo clown Justin Rumford. Shortly thereafter, Josey began the work needed to be one of the best in the game.
“It’s knowing you’re going to be in a dogfight with these bulls,” he said. “Sometimes they get the better of you and get you down. That’s part of it. When you’re on top of your game, he’s just trying everything he can to get to you, but you keep him from it. He can get within an eyelash of you, but you make the move you need.”
Those are the snapshots Justin Josey sees. That’s what drives him and pushes him, and he hopes to pass that down to the next generation. After all, that’s a big part of what Bullfighters Only is all about.
“I want to see little kids walking around in bullfighters jerseys,” he said. “I want to see the sport grow past any expectations.”
CONTESTANTS
Beau Schueth
Justin Josey
Cody Greer
Zach Call
Evan Allard
Toby Inman
A Pioneering Spirit
Bullfighters Only brings the best men in the game to Lewiston for the Roundup
LEWISTON, Idaho – Like the men and women who settled the Old West, Erick Schwindt sees the men of Bullfighters Only as explorers and trend-setters.
“It’s fun being part of the pioneer group of Bullfighters Only,” said Schwindt, 24, of Lyons, Ore. “I do it, and I think we all do it, because we love to fight bulls.”
He and five other men will have their opportunity to showcase their talents and the pioneering efforts of Bullfighters Only during a two-night championship set for Friday and Saturday in conjunction with the Lewiston Roundup.
“It’s going to be fun,” Schwindt said of competing at Lewiston, which has long been considered one of the biggest and best events in ProRodeo. “It’s a big rodeo, and you get to go out in front of a big crowd and show them what you can do. Just being invited it a big deal to me.”
It’s a big deal for the BFO, which has created public demand for the sport. The bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which are bred specifically for this type of fight.
That’s exactly what drives Schwindt, who began fighting bulls more than a decade ago.
“I rode steers for a couple of years, but it just wasn’t for me,” he said. “I didn’t like being on the back of them. One of my brother’s good buddies fought bulls; by watching him, I thought it would be fun to do.
“I went to my first bullfighting school when I was 13 years old, and I have loved it ever since.”
He sits 15th in the BFO standings and would love the opportunity to step up a few rungs on the ladder. He will get it this weekend, but it will be a big test. Not only will he be up against some amazing animal athletes, he will be in a competition that features three of the top four men in the standings – No. 2 Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo.; third-ranked Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas; and Ross Hill, the fourth-ranked bullfighter from Muscle Shoals, Ala.
“We’re all brothers, and we stick together,” Schwindt said. “If somebody goes down, a bunch of us are going to jump in and help. We’re all there for each other. It comes down to the fact that you’ve got to beat your bull. That’s all you can control.”
Lewiston is the 26th stop on the Bullfighters Only inaugural tour. The BFO conducted its first event last December in Las Vegas, and the 30-event tour began in January. Its growth has been phenomenal.
“It’s been pretty amazing that it’s grown so fast,” he said. “From going to our first sessions to going straight to Vegas last December; there aren’t very many things that can go to Vegas when they’re just starting.
“We have these events all over the country. It’s just been incredible.”
That movement includes a series of stops in the Northwest – from Washington to Oregon to Idaho, Bullfighters Only has made its home in the region.
“I think being part of prestigious rodeos is a big deal for us,” Schwindt said. “A lot of these rodeos may have had bullfights back in the day. In the Northwest, bullfighting hasn’t been here in many years. People love it. Yes, it’s an adrenaline rush. It’s not only for us but also for the fans, too.
“I think it’s going to be a great deal for a lot of these rodeos.”
CONTESTANTS
Nate Jestes
Weston Rutkowski
Ross Hill
Ross Johnson
Erick Schwindt
Cade Burns
Webster adds Ellensburg title
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Cody Webster has earned many accolades during a stellar bullfighting career.
He added another Friday night by becoming the first Bullfighters Only-Ellensburg champion with a strong bout with 12x and Costa’s Murder Ink – the duo moved around the Ellensburg Rodeo arena dirt in a brisk dance of athleticism that resulted in an 86-point bout.
“This is awesome,” said Webster of Wayne, Okla. “This is my third or fourth year of getting to come to this great rodeo and protect the bull riders. Now they’ve added the bullfights and made it even better.
“This is the first bullfight they’ve had in about 16 years. It’s a pretty neat deal to be the first BFO champion here. The committee’s really great to us; they go above and beyond and make us feel at home. It’s definitely a notch on the belt to win this.”
Dusty Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyo., started the night of fights, producing a 78-point mark. Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo., was the second bullfighter and scored 80.
“Tuck had a decent bull but couldn’t get (the bull) to stay tied up,” Webster said. “Nate came out and had the strongest bull of the round, definitely the hottest bull. He didn’t get a strong start, and the bull got him treed.”
When the bull put Jestes in a tough position, the bullfighter scrambled up the fence to safety. That typically affects the overall score negatively.
“I knew I just needed to be solid and not pull anything crazy,” Webster said. “When I called for the bull, his first reaction was to kick out of there; he’s a young bull that’s not used to that flank. I just did what I had to; I just attacked him.”
By being aggressive, the Oklahoma man forced the bull to stay with him tightly. Webster made a series of rounds as Murder Ink stayed on Webster’s heels. Once the bullfighter earned a little separation, he was able to show off more moves, including a solid step-through. As he closed out his 60-second fight, Webster earned the separation he needed to finish the bout by jumping Murder Ink.
It made for the perfect ending to a top-notch evening of rodeo and bullfighting.
As the No. 1 bullfighter in the BFO, he added $1,500 to push his season earnings to $22,237. Jestes, who sits in second place in the standings, moved past the $20,000 mark with his second-place finish in Ellensburg.
“The crowd stayed hooked and was really responsive,” Webster said. “They were loud and intense. (The committee) was really stoked about the bullfights. It was a great event all the way around.”
ELLENSBURG RESULTS
Cody Webster, 86
points
Nate Jestes, 80
Dusty Tuckness, 78
Webster likes rooftop view
Bullfighters Only’s top-ranked man ready to battle beasts at Ellensburg Rodeo
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Cody Webster understands his position as king of the hill may be for a limited time, but he’s enjoying the view so far.
“It’s pretty neat, because we’re not talking about two or three or even four guys,” said Webster, the No. 1 man in the Bullfighters Only standings with $20,737 in season earnings. “We’re talking about 15 guys that could potentially be No. 1. That’s how good the group is and how talented everyone is.”
They’ve shown it over the course of this inaugural Bullfighters Only season. It has been an amazing race for the first BFO world championship, and Webster is the third man to hold the top spot in 2016.
“Last week made my seventh event, and I’ve won over $20,000,” said Webster of Wayne, Okla. “That speaks volumes for what the BFO has done this year. It would be different if a guy could go to every event.
“It’s a pretty good feeling, but nothing’s safe. We’ve got another one Friday.”
Webster will be one of three men involved in Friday’s Bullfighter’s Only event held in conjunction with the Ellensburg Rodeo, a Labor Day weekend tradition for more than 90 years. He will be joined by Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo., and Dusty Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyo. Jestes has led the BFO standings for much of the season, and Tuckness has posted the highest-marked fight – a 91.5 in Cody, Wyo.
“It’s a great race,” Webster said, pointing out that Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas, has also held the top spot and sits No. 3 in the standings with just a few events remaining in the regular season. “It’s set up well for everybody. Weston is more of a freestyle guy than me; he doesn’t have near as many protection jobs, so he’s been able to go to more events.
“That says something, too. It’s a good feeling and a good race. That’s what we want. Anybody can win this thing, like Schell Apple showing up and winning Bremerton (Wash.) and Zach Call winning Kennewick (Wash.). Those young guys are just as talented as the top guys.”
“I’m thrilled for the BFO,” Webster said. “I’m blessed that I have so many protection jobs. At the same time, I was one of those young guys coming up who couldn’t get that many protection jobs. There was a time when I was starting when I had to do good at the freestyle bullfights or go flip burgers.
“The freestyle bullfights saved me. If I can be part of something for these young guys so they can come up and make a good living full time off freestyle bullfighting, then that’s great. It’s what we want.”
Jestes, Tuckness and Webster will first serve as protection bullfighters during the rodeo, then they will be part of the Bullfighters Only competition. “Not only will we show up and protect the cowboys, but we also get to step up for the freestyle fight,” Webster said.
Being part of the Ellensburg Rodeo also is a big step for Bullfighters Only as it continues to grow freestyle bullfighting through some of the most prestigious rodeos in the country.
“It’s huge,” he said. “It’s freestyle bullfighting. It’s extreme, it’s very much contact and it’s very wild. It’s also very dangerous.
“It’s very exciting to be able to add the bullfights to a great rodeo. The committee seems very stoked and happy, and we’re all pumped about it.”
ELLENSBURG CONTESTANTS
Cody Webster
Nate Jestes
Dusty Tuckness
Call collects Kennewick win
KENNEWICK, Wash. – Zach Call didn’t start the year among the top 15 men on the Bullfighters Only tour.
He’s almost there, though, with strong performances during the BFO’s inaugural season. He made a solid move Friday night by posting an 80-point fight to win the championship in Kennewick in association with the Benton County Fair and Rodeo. He now sits tied for 16th in the standings heading into the final month of the season.
“It got my foot further in the door with the BFO,” said Call of Thedford, Neb., a community of about 200 people in the north-central section of the state. “This was my fourth event.
“I think Bullfighters Only is great to help grow the sport and get it out there where it belongs.”
It is, and Call is just one of the reasons why. Not too bad for a man who has only been fighting bulls for three years.
“I used to ride, and that didn’t work out too well, so I made the switch,” he said. “I love the adrenaline rush of it, and I still get to be close to bull riding. I’ve loved it since I was a little kid.”
As a newcomer, he is still working his way up. Having the opportunity to showcase his talent at an established and prestigious rodeo like the one in Kennewick is a big move in his young career.
“It’s cool to be part of that rodeo,” Call said. “The atmosphere was outstanding.”
If he keeps performing like he did Friday night, Call will have more opportunities to be part of events that have that type of credentials.
“I just want to be able to go to the events and get a few more wins under my belt,” he said. “Hopefully that will help me move up the standings.”
RESULTS
1. Zach Call, 80 points
2. Toby Inman, 77
3. Justin Josey, 75
Apple peels off Bremerton title
BREMERTON, Wash. – Not much separates the top men from the rest of the field in the Bullfighters Only. Schell Apple proved that Friday night during the Bullfighters Only competition held in conjunction with the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede, posting an 81-point fight to win the title.
“It’s pretty cool to get that win,” said the 20-year-old Oklahoman, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on Wednesday. “I was going up against Ross (Hill) and Cody (Webster), who are both in the top five in the standings. If either of them would’ve won the event, they would’ve moved to first.”
Instead, Apple moved up from 10th to at least seventh in the standings. Depending on how the weekend finishes, he could be among the top six.
All three men were matched with aggressive bulls that made their presence felt. Both Hill and Webster were hooked and knocked to the ground; their scores revealed as much. Webster finished second with a 77.5-point fight, and Hill placed third with a 71.
“I got bumped around and knocked off my feet, but I never fell,” said Apple of Fay, Okla. “None of us got away clean. All the bulls were real hot and right in your pocket.”
With half the score coming from the bull, it’s vital for the bullfighters to be matched with quality animals. They got that with Darrell Diefenbach’s 12x Fighting Bulls.
“It wasn’t the luck of the draw in those fights,” Apple said. “All those bulls were good.”
It worked out for the young bullfighter as he continues through Bullfighter’s Only’s inaugural season.
“It shows the kind of talent we have top to bottom in the BFO,” he said. “Even guys that are way back in the standings can come out and beat the top guys. I don’t care if you’re first or 15th; you have a chance to win on any given night.”
RESULTS
1. Schell Apple, 81 points
2. Cody Webster, 77.5
3. Ross Hill, 71
photo by Sarah Rempelos
Inman returns to bullfighting
After a five-year hiatus, Illinois man will test his skills against
Bullfighters Only’s best
KENNEWICK, Wash. – It’s been five years since Toby Inman looked into the eyes of a bull.
He returns to competition this Friday for the Bullfighters Only tour event that will take place in conjunction with the Benton County Fair and Rodeo in Kennewick.
“I don’t know if it’s been retirement (from bullfighting) or if it’s just been a break,” said Inman, 33, of Davis Junction, Ill. “I left because of the economy and for other personal reasons. When you’re trying to juggle your own business and fighting bulls, too, it’s just pretty difficult.”
Inman owns Toby’s Tree Service in his hometown, so juggling that with a life in rodeo oftentimes proved difficult. That’s why he’s been away from the game so many years. But he knows the game well.
That’s why he’s in the field in Kennewick.
“It’s been mind-blowing,” Inman said of the experience. “I got the call last week. It wasn’t really planned. I’m still wrapping my head around it.”
He will serve as a replacement for Chuck Swisher, who suffered a season-ending knee injury a week and a half ago. He’s more than capable.
In 2011 when he opted for the break from bullfighting, Inman was considered one of the best in the game. Now he will test his skills in a three-man, winner-take-all bullfight inside Horse Heaven Arena – he will be joined by Zach Call and Justin Josey, the latter of whom is 12th in the BFO standings.
It’s a test of talent, mental awareness and the ability to read what a bull is about to do. Is Inman concerned about his stamina?
“I cut trees for a living, so I’m in more shape than most people,” he said. “I figure I’ve got to know-how to keep the bull close to me so I don’t have to exert too much energy. That’s the plan, anyway.”
Inman has shied away from the game he loves for many reasons, the biggest of which is handling his tree business at home. He has clients and employees that need his attention. Still he’s excited to see what he can do in Kennewick.
“When you have the personality of a racecar driver or a fighter or people that jump out of airplanes, it’s a mentality of ‘Why not?’ ” he said.
That mentality served Inman well in the past. There’s no reason it shouldn’t benefit him this weekend in Kennewick.
CONTESTANTS
Zach Call
Justin Josey
Toby Inman
A birthday bash in Bremerton
Young bullfighter to celebrate his 21st during BFO stop at
Kitsap County Fair, Stampede
BREMERTON, Wash. – For many young people, a 21st birthday is cause for celebration and for an outrageous party.
Schell Apple isn’t like most people his age. He plans to celebrate a few days early by standing toe-to-toe with a fighting bull during the Bullfighters Only tour stop Friday held in conjunction with the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede in Bremerton.
It’s the perfect way to ring in such an anniversary for the young man from Fay, Okla., who attends Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
“I’ve been fighting bulls since I was about 14,” Apple said. “I actually think the bullfight in Bremerton will be exactly seven years to the day that I first started, which was actually a few days before my 14th birthday.”
While he’s still young, the Oklahoman is a veteran in the game and has been recognized as one of the top 15 bullfighters in the game. He will be matched with a couple of other veteran bullfighters – Cody Webster of Wayne, Okla., and Ross Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala. – during the three-man freestyle bullfight in Bremerton.
“I think it’s really cool to be able to travel to prestigious rodeos like that and to be able to perform in front of crowds like that and showcase the abilities God has given me,” Apple said.
That’s what true athletic competition is like in any arena, especially in the case of Bullfighters Only. In fact, the men themselves were the guiding force behind the creation of Bullfighters Only. It was developed a little more than a year ago, and it has seen rapid growth. That’s been a good thing for the BFO and the bullfighters.
“It has taken off ridiculously fast,” he said of the BFO. “I didn’t know a company could get this much momentum so fast. I think it’s awesome.
“Basically we had a website to sell products. Someone had an idea to put on a bullfight, so we booked a venue in Las Vegas. That tone event in Vegas is what lined up the other 30 events of this tour.”
Now it its inaugural season, Bullfighters Only will crown its first world champion later this year. Bremerton is just one of the many stops along the way to deciding which man will earn that title.
“I have not been in the lead all summer,” said Hill, the No. 4 man in the BFO standings. “I’d like to jump myself up there. My mission is to ease into that first-place spot and put a little heat on them.”
Hill won this past weekend in Gooding, Idaho, so he hopes to parlay that a solid run to close out the season. Webster won last week in Caldwell, Idaho, to add to his victory run; he is third in the standings.
“I’ve never been to Bremerton,” Webster said. “It’s definitely one of the top rodeos in the sport. We’ll just go out there and do what we do everywhere else, and that’s put on a show for everyone to enjoy.”
When it’s a battle of man vs. beast, the bull has the upper hand. That’s why the bullfighters volley with their own athleticism and maneuvers that keep them close to the action and just out of harm’s way.
Combined, the danger, the excitement and the speed of a 40- to 60-second fight is an incredible display that fans have enjoyed all season.
“I think we as Bullfighters Only have put freestyle bullfighting on a whole new level and on a whole other platform,” Apple said. “Back when they had the Wrangler Bullfights 16 years ago, it was pretty awesome. I think we’ve brought it up to a whole new speed. It’s almost an acrobatic sport now.
“It’s fun what we’re doing and how we’re all feeding off one another. Now we’re doing flips over bulls. We’ve stepped it up to a whole new level, and it’s just going to keep going up.”
CONTESTANTS
Shell Apple
Cody Webster
Ross Hill
Swisher out 4-6 months
Oklahoma bullfighter suffers torn ACL, will miss remainder of 2016 season
Chuck Swisher has been fortunate much of his career to shy away from serious injuries.
That stopped during the Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Boothill Rodeo, when Swisher suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while serving as a protection bullfighter. In that role, his primary job is to protect fallen bull riders and all others inside the arena.
Swisher’s right knee buckled, but it didn’t slow him down. In fact, the Dover, Okla., man didn’t realize the depth of his injury until the rodeo had ended two nights later.
“The next day, my right knee never really hurt, but I could tell it felt weak,” he said. “I got it taped up real good, then I went out and fought bulls. Three or four bulls in, I planted my right leg, and my knee buckled again.”
That night he had an inkling of news ahead. A few days later, an MRI in Oklahoma City revealed the tear. Swisher has scheduled ACL replacement surgery for Aug. 30 in Dallas by noted rodeo surgeon Dr. Tandy Freeman.
That means he will miss four to six months of not only the Bullfighters Only season but also miss rodeos in which he was hired as a protection bullfighter.
“By stepping into the arena, I know what I’m getting myself into,” Swisher said. “Injuries are part of the game. Being upset won’t solve anything.
“If I have anything wrong with my lower half of my body, I’m going to get it taken care of. My knees and my ankles … that’s my team.”
Swisher is just 26 years old, so he has a long future in front of him as one of the top bullfighters in the game. That’s another reason to make sure the repair is complete.
“I could go the rest of my career with a bum knee and one not working 100 percent,” he said. “Our job’s too serious to not be 100 percent, so it’s off to surgery.”
That doesn’t mean humor can’t be part of the remedy.
“Hopefully by the time I have surgery, Usain Bolt can tell me to have just part of his ACL,” he said jokingly.
Though he’s suffered a few broken bones – including bones in his cervical vertebrae – and been knocked out, the ACL injury is the first to knock him out of the arena for a lengthy time.
“I’ve been fighting bulls for 10 years, and I’ve only had a few broken bones,” Swisher said. “I’m bummed I’m out, but I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to do what I’ve done. I’m excited to go into this break with 100 percent joy.”
Hill has a barrel of fun
Veteran goes “old school” en route to his Bullfighters Only tour victory in Gooding
GOODING, Idaho – Ross Hill is a veteran bullfighter who has a few tricks up his sleeve.
He earned his spot in Saturday night’s championship round of the Bullfighters Only tour event in association with the Gooding Pro Rodeo, then pulled out some old-school items from his toolbox to pull off an 89.5-point fight to win the championship and $3,000.
“We had a long-round fight to start with, and the top two scores from that advanced to the short round,” said Hill, who bested rising star Cade Burns in the final round to take the title. “The head-to-head format has been awesome.”
It was there, though, that Hill shined while matching moves 12x Fighting Bulls and Costa’s AK-47.
“Weston (Rutkowski) had him in Reno and won on him,” said Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala. “I was really excited to have him. He’s got a big ol’ set of horns. I had seen Weston really shine on him and figured it was my opportunity to do the same.”
The quick little black bull was true to his name, spitting out rapid shots that the Alabama bullfighter countered. When the time came, the 33-year-old Hill pulled the animal toward the barrel and its inhabitant, barrelman Justin Rumford.
“I like to get some showmanship out of the barrel,” Hill said. “I watched the four guys go before I went, and I was on the fence next to the crowd, and they were loud the whole time. The loudest they got was when the bulls hit the barrel.
“I heard a long time ago that if you win the crowd, you win the gold. I wanted to bring that barrel into the fight. Of course, I drew the best bull, so that was the biggest thing.”
That, oftentimes, is the difference in the Bullfighters Only events, which serve as a world-class showcase of the sport’s top talent. Hill has 10 years of bullfighting under his belt, and it shows.
“To be the best bullfighter, you have to fight the best bulls,” he said. “With the BFO, the progression of our group is so high that it really comes down to who draws the best bull. We’re all pretty even in our fights, so it comes down to the bull.”
With half the score coming from the animal, having a talented athlete on the other side of the equation is vital. All the men in Gooding experienced that with 12x Fighting Bulls. In a field that included BFO No. 1 Nate Jestes and three other top bullfighters in Evan Allard, Justin Josey and Zach Call, only Hill and Burns made the short round.
“I really like that format where we can have one on one,” Hill said. “Had it not been that way, I would’ve finished second.”
That’s because Burns put on a solid performance in his inaugural Bullfighters Only competition. He won the opening round with an 88-point fight.
“I’m just excited to get my foot in the door,” Burns said. “It seems like the BFO is really taking off, and I just felt lucky to be part of it.
“It couldn’t have been any better. I’ve been working out all summer, and (Bullfighters Only CEO) Aaron Ferguson said I would probably be able to get into one this year. The way the cards fell, I got that chance. To get to step in the ring and get to compete with those guys was an honor. To be the first one and to be the new kid on the block was just a blessing to me.”
He fared fairly well for not having been part of a freestyle bullfight in several years.
“I wasn’t nervous and I wasn’t worked up,” he said. “I was just excited to have the opportunity to go out there and show my stuff.”
When the ink dried, though, Hill took the top prize. He wasn’t able to put it into any type of season perspective, but there’s a reason for that.
“I don’t rank my bullfights,” he said. “You conquer your bulls, and you don’t look any further than that. Don’t pride yourself on what was yesterday, because there’s another one next weekend. The 0only reason you want to look back is to keep it fresh for the future. None of your premier rodeo guys look at last weekend.”
With the victory, Hill pushed closer toward the top three in the BFO standings. He sits fourth with just eight events remaining in the regular season, but he’s only $1,300 behind the leader, Jestes.
“We’re just now getting cranked up for my season,” Hill said. “I’ve got three events coming up one right after another one, and I plan on winning three of them. My goal is to stick three W’s up on this Northwest run.”
GOODING RESULTS
First round:
Cade Burns, 88 points
Ross Hill, 87
Justin Josey, 85
Evan Allard, 84
Nate Jestes, 79
Zach Call, 77
Championship round:
Ross Hill, 89.5 points
Cade Burns, 86
Webster wins on a wild night
Packed crowd at Caldwell Night Rodeo enjoys Bullfighters Only competition
CALDWELL, Idaho – Having served as a protection bullfighter for a few years, Cody Webster knows all about the raucous crowd at the Caldwell Night Rodeo.
On Tuesday during the opening night of the five-night rodeo, Webster showed that crowd his tremendous athleticism during the Bullfighters Only tour competition that concluded the performance. He posted an 89.5-point fight on 12X Fighting Bulls’ Little Foot to claim the title.
“It was awesome, and it was in front of a sold-out crowd,” said Webster of Wayne, Okla. “Caldwell, Idaho, is one of the premier rodeos in our sport. It was just a Tuesday night, and it was completely sold out. It was amazing.
“I work this rodeo every year, but to bring the BFO in and add a new flair to it, the crowd loved it. I think they will be talking about it for a long time.”
The four-man bullfight was just what the crowd needed. In addition to four of the top men in the world, it also featured the bulls from former bullfighter Darrell Diefenbach and Manuel Costa's 12X Fighting Bulls. From the opening moment, the stage was set.
“It was a pretty awesome night,” Webster said. “We had a really strong crowd, and the first bull out was a little red bull that will probably be a 24-point bull based on the 25-point scale the bull is judged on. That bull just set the tone, hooked Evan (Allard) and drug him around a little bit.”
Allard, of Vinita, Okla., wasn’t the only one who struggled a little with his aggressive bull. Nathan Harp of Tuttle, Okla., also got knocked down a bit. Allard finished with 73 points, and Harp was 81. Dusty Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyo., wrapped up a solid fight with an 86-point score.
But the night belonged to Webster.
“One of my good buddies, Nate Jestes, who leads our standings, had that little black bull at Reno, and I think he ended up winning the night,” Webster said. “He’s just a really good fighting bull. He runs the whole time and doesn’t really get away from you.
“I had a really good, sweet fight. I broke him down pretty hard (with a fake) to get some separation and lined up a good jump to sell it.”
It’s vital to have strong bulls in a fight. The better the bull, the better the score can be. But that also opens the door for potential danger. Both Allard and Harp went down, and their scores reflected that.
“Nathan had kind of a bad go,” Webster said. “The bull got him caught and knocked down. When you get knocked down and take a shot, it usually takes a little out of you.
“This was definitely the strongest set of four bulls we’ve had all year long. It was one of those cool nights everyone will remember. The tone was set early on and stayed that way the whole night.”
He pocketed $1,500 for winning Caldwell and kept himself in contention for Bullfighters Only’s inaugural world championship.
“It gives me another little bump to move up in the standings,” he said. “Most of all, just going out every week to do the best we can makes a difference for us.”
CALDWELL RESULTS
1. Cody Webster, 89.5 points
2. Dusty Tuckness, 86
3. Nathan Harp, 81
4. Evan Allard, 73
Adding a dash of danger
Bullfighters Only to be showcased on final night of Gooding Pro Rodeo
GOODING, Idaho – The men of Bullfighters Only take danger to a new level.
It’s one thing to face danger; it’s another thing to attack it and bring it to its knees. That’s what the Bullfighters Only competition will be about Saturday during the final night of the Gooding Pro Rodeo. Six men will compete in the freestyle-bullfighting battle for the title.
“It’s crazy to think this is our actual first year and that we have so many events at these historic rodeos,” said bullfighter Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla. “For my first year to walk into an arena with such prestigious awards, it’s a true honor for me to fight bulls there.”
The award-winning Gooding Pro Rodeo has a grand history, and Bullfighters Only is just adding to the showcase of the world’s best.
Now just a little more than a year old, Bullfighters Only is still in its infancy, but it has grown rapidly. The Gooding rodeo is the 21st stop on the BFO’s inaugural tour.
“In my opinion, Bullfighters Only is the most elite set of guys that have ever been involved in freestyle bullfighting,” said Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo. “There hasn’t been a set of 15 guys that are as strong and as talented that are going down the road at this time. It’s not only the elite guys, but the elite bulls, too.
“These are the kinds of bulls that allow us to showcase our abilities and our talents. We’re fighting bulls that are good, fun to fight and are fun to watch. I think that’s what sets Bullfighters Only apart from other freestyle events. It’s the best guys, it’s the best bulls, and it’s the best freestyle competition around.”
Jestes leads the BFO standings with more than $19,000 in earnings, but his lead is slim. In bullfighting, dollars equal championship points, so every penny counts in a big way as the men battle their way toward the inaugural world championship.
“I think it’s a good thing we’ve all done to bring the bullfights back to where they belong,” said Allard of Vinita, Okla. “It’s taken off because bullfighting is the greatest extreme sport in the world, and we have the best freestyle bullfighters alive all doing it right now.”
“What’s cool about Bullfighters Only is that the top 15 guys are part of what we call the Pioneer Project,” Jestes said. “It’s 15 of the sport’s best. We’re in it for each other and for the sport of freestyle bullfighting. No matter who wins, we’re happy for each other. It’s pretty amazing.”
That’s a big deal to the bullfighters.
“To me, Bullfighters Only is more like a group of brothers,” Swisher said of the top 15 bullfighters in the game that make up the BFO. “We all went in and are part of this team that helps in bringing the freestyle bullfights back in front of the fans. It’s something we’ve always wanted for so long.
“Even before there was even a thought of the BFO, we always stuck together and stuck our necks out for each other. We push each other to get better, and now we put a name on it.”
The men of Bullfighters Only have shared their passion with others, and now the world will see what true athleticism goes into freestyle bullfighting.
GOODING CONTESTANTS
Nate Jestes
Ross Hill
Evan Allard
Justin Josey
Zach Call
Cade Burns
Schueth leaps to Sikeston title
SIKESTON, Mo. – Bullfighting is more than a leap of faith for Beau Schueth, but he doesn’t mind jumping into the action.
It paid off Friday night to the Bullfighter Only tour victory during the championship round in conjunction with the Sikeston Jaycee Boothill Rodeo. The O’Neill, Neb., man scored 89 points to win the title.
“I’ve been in kind of a slump the last couple events I went to,” she said. “To finally get another win under my belt means a lot, and there’s no better place to do it than Sikeston. It’s an awesome rodeo, and the committee’s great. It’s just a fun time. This is my second year there, and I hope to be able to go back next year.
“The crowd seemed really into it. When the crowd’s into it, that makes me want to do something crazier and fight harder for them.”
It also helped that Schueth was matched with an aggressive bull that was on point throughout the fight with Hookin’ A Ranch’s Shed Hunter. With half the score coming from the animal, the Nebraskan knew he had an opportunity to take the title.
“He’s a super-hot little bull,” Schueth said. “He was coming with it right out of the gate and for the first 20 seconds. Then it calmed down and settled into a grove. I got some step-throughs and started breaking him down.
“Those are the ones you want, ones that are hot on your tail the whole time. I got a good up at the end to sell (the fight).”
He earned his spot in the three-man championship round by eliminating Ross Hill in the tournament-style format. He was then matched with the other two winners, Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla., and Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas.
“I had a good bull named Webster,” Schueth said of the bull he had been matched with for the first round. “Cody Webster raised him and fought him a lot. I knew he’d know the game a little bit. I just went out and made sure my fakes and rounds were solid. He was a lot of fun. I didn’t get my legs up fast enough on my jump, but it worked out; I just rolled out of it and sold (the fight) there.”
With the fight, Schueth sits solidly in the top five of the Bullfighters Only standings. He’d like to cash in a little more before the BFO finale, which will take place Dec. 1-4 in Las Vegas.
“I was planning on being one of the contenders for the BFO world championship, but I’ve fallen down in the standings,” he said. “Winning Sikeston helped bring that goal back. I just want to be in the mix with all the top bullfighters going, and so far, it seems like I’ve been able to do that.
“It’s so much fun to be able to fight against guys you’ve watched and learned from. Now to compete with them and be on their level is an awesome feeling.”
He’s earned that spot one bullfight at a time.
SIKESTON RESULTS
First round
1. Weston Rutkowski, 88 points
2. (tie) Chuck Swisher and Beau Schueth, 84
4. Ross Hill, 81
5. Cody Emerson, 79
6. Schell Apple, 77
Championship round
1. Beau Schueth, 89 points
2. Chuck Swisher, 86
3. Weston Rutkowski, 84
Swisher claims Sidney title
SIDNEY, Iowa – One by one, Chuck Swisher watched the three other bullfighters go during the championship round of the Bullfighters Only stop at Sidney Iowa’s Championship Rodeo on Saturday night.
He paid close attention to every move, every counter move and every score. As the last man to challenge his animal, Swisher knew exactly what he needed to do.
“Thankfully I drew a good bull from Hookin A Ranch,” he said. “I actually won the bullfighting in Burlington (Colo.) on him last year.
“I knew I had to capitalize on it. That’s the nice thing about going last; you can see what you have to fight to. I just wanted to beat my bull.”
The fight started bright for the Oklahoma man, who jumped the bull as it burst out of the chute. He made a couple of rounds, then took the bull toward the fence to work some fakes in small spaces. As the two separated, Swisher re-engaged with the animal, threw a fake a little early and was knocked down.
“It doesn’t matter how hard you throw a fake, if you throw it too early, it’s not going to work,” he said. “He got under my vest and knocked the air out of me pretty good. I knew that if I didn’t act hurt, I wouldn’t be hurt, so I just went straight back to the fight.
“Usually a hooking doesn’t help you at all. If you get hooked, it’s going to affect your score in a bad way. So I just made a few more rounds, then jumped the bull from the barrel. I knew I had to do some big things, but I knew that even if I got last place, I wanted to beat my bull. Fortunately it worked to my advantage.”
It was a busy week in southwest Iowa. Since competitor Evan Allard also served as a protection bullfighter during the rodeo and provided the fighting bulls, all nine men who were part of the Bullfighters Only competition pitched in to make sure everything was covered: feeding the bulls and sorting them for each night’s contest.
“It seemed like I was busy all week,” said Swisher of Dover, Okla. “We wanted it to go as smooth as possible, so during the rodeo, I was in the back pens loading and flanking bulls. We all wanted it to be set up since Evan was working the rodeo.
“That’s part of what the BFO is, working together and helping each other. We just had to step up to the plate.”
With his victory, Swisher earned just less than $3,000 and moved up two spots to eighth in the Bullfighters Only standings.
“Any win is a great win, but during the BFO tour, you need to capitalize on it when you can,” he said. “Nate (Jestes) and Weston (Rutkowski) have about $13,000 on me, so I just need to get the ball rolling with some more wins. It’s a great starting point for me in Sidney, and I just want to keep rolling with it.
“It’s awesome, because if there wasn’t such a thing as the BFO tour, I would have spent this week sweating and working my tail off back in Oklahoma. Thankfully I got to fight two bulls and do the best that I could. I also get to take home a check and the buckle.”
The Sidney stop featured three go-rounds with three bullfighters each night. The round winners advanced to Saturday’s short round, while the three men who were runners-up advanced to Friday’s wild card round. Cody Webster of Wayne, Okla., won on opening night, Swisher the second round and Ross Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala., earned the third-round victory.
Beau Schueth of O’Neill, Neb., earned his spot in the championship round by winning Friday’s bullfight, and the final night of the tour stop was done before a packed crowd at the rodeo that was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame just one year earlier.
“That’s what’s so great about these competitions: even though we weren’t hired for this rodeo, we can still come to town and fight bulls,” Swisher said. “We have a chance to compete together and make some more money.”
It definitely worked out that way for Swisher.
SIDNEY RESULTS, Championship Round
Chuck Swisher, 85 points
Cody Webster, 83
Ross Hill, 80
Beau Schueth, 70
A magic act in Sikeston
Top men in Bullfighters Only will battle for the title at prestigious rodeo
SIKESTON, Mo. – There is something magical that happens when a man goes face to face with a bull and comes away unscathed.
It’s not exactly sleight of hand, but it’s inspiring to say the least. That’s the epitome of the men that are part of Bullfighters Only, which will feature two nights of freestyle bullfighting action Aug. 10-11 during the Sikeston Jaycee Boothill Rodeo at Art Saunders Arena.
“Sikeston is a very unique setup,” said Weston Rutkowski, the No. 1 man on the Bullfighters Only tour standings. “The fans are right on top of you, and they are very knowledgeable about the bullfighting.”
That’s true. The freestyle bullfights are not new to the fans in Sikeston. For years, it was part of a tour that ended nearly two decades ago. Bullfighting returned to the event two years ago, and this year is part of the BFO’s inaugural tour.
Bullfighters Only has created a public demand for the sport, and it’s working. Sikeston is just one of many prestigious ProRodeos that is part of the BFO tour.
“It’s crazy to think this is our actual first year and that we have so many events at these historic rodeos,” said Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla.
With scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
In Sikeston, Rutkowski and Swisher are just two of five men who will be part of the competition. They will compete in two go-rounds, and payouts will be based on how well the bullfighters do in each round and in the two-fight aggregate. The man with the best two-bout cumulative score will be crowned the Sikeston BFO champion.
“This will be my third year competing in it,” Swisher said. “They’ve had the bullfights before, but this is the first year it’s part of the BFO so it counts toward the standings.”
Nobody understands that more than Rutkowski. Though he has one title under his belt this season, his consistency has paid off. Like all the other bullfighters in the BFO, he wants his name on the No. 1 line when the season concludes.
“It’s very humbling to be able to work a rodeo that’s as prestigious, but as the cliché goes, hard work pays off,” said Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas. “For some reason, freestyle bullfighting wasn’t cool for a long time, but there were a handful of us who stayed with it. Now the fruits of our labor are paying off.”
In fact, the men themselves were the guiding force behind the creation of Bullfighters Only. It was developed a little more than a year ago, and it has seen rapid growth. That’s been a good thing for the BFO and the world’s best bullfighters.
“The really cool thing about freestyle bullfighting is that it’s just really simple to understand,” said Ross Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala., who will be one of the five combatants in Sikeston. “It’s a game of cat and mouse, except the mouse weights a lot more than 20 pounds and can flat run over you. It’s easy to follow, and it’s a little more self-explanatory than some extreme events.
“It’s man vs. beast. We’re the last of the gladiators. There aren’t a whole lot of sports out there where you can show your skill around a bull.”
It’s a format that has been working all season long, and it’s expected to be quite the showcase in Sikeston.
SIKESTON CONTESTANTS
Weston Rutkowski
Schell Apple
Ross Hill
Chuck Swisher
Beau Schueth
Cody Emerson
Jestes' 91 wins Dodge City
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Nate Jestes has another reason to love Dodge City Roundup Rodeo.
On Tuesday night, Jestes posted a 91-point score to win the Bullfighters Only stop in Dodge City and pushed himself back to the No. 1 spot in the BFO standings.
“It felt awesome,” said Jestes of Douglas, Wyo. “I came and worked the (Xtreme) bull riding, so I was feeling it in the legs a little bit toward the end of my bullfight. To come out here and win this event, especially against guys like Dusty Tuckness, Weston (Rutkowski) and Zach (Flatt), I’m truly blessed to do what I’m doing.”
Jestes was the standings leader much of the season but was passed by Rutkowski a little more than a week ago. With his marking Tuesday, Jestes has the second highest score posted in Bullfighters Only’s inaugural season – Tuckness was 91.5 points to win Cody, Wyo., a month ago.
“Dusty came up to me right before I fought, and he said, ‘Nate, you’ve got the one to win it on; go do your thing,’ ” Jestes said. “Right then and there I knew if I went out and performed and do what I do, I’d have a pretty good chance to win this deal.”
Bullfighters Only was developed a little more than a year ago and has been playing in front of some of the biggest venues and most prestigious events in the game. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo is just one of a number of the top rodeos in the country that is featuring the BFO in 2016.
“I think we’ve done a very good job of bringing the freestyle bullfighting world back to the mainstream,” Jestes said. “ There has never been a better set of 15 guys in the sport. We’ve just got to keep going out and proving that and doing our thing.”
It was a big hit in Dodge City on Tuesday night, and Jestes is glad. This is his second year to serve as a protection bullfighter, and he is excited to be the first champion of the Bullfighters Only event in Roundup history.
“I came to this rodeo the first time last year, and it quickly became one of my favorites,” he said. “It’s an honor to be considered one of the best and to come here to Dodge City.”
DODGE CITY RESULTS
1. Nate Jestes, 91 points
2. Dusty Tuckness, 87
3. Zach Flatt, 86
4. Weston Rutkowski, 79
Feeling the Sidney
experience
Iowa’s Championship Rodeo fans will witness the best with Bullfighters Only
SIDNEY, Iowa – Fans in this southwest Iowa community got a taste of freestyle bullfighting a year ago.
Everything steps up even more this year with Bullfighters Only, which will showcase nine of the elite men in the game during a five-night battle at Iowa’s Championship Rodeo, set for Tuesday, Aug. 2-Saturday, Aug. 6.
“The committee told me last year that it was the greatest thing they had there” since the early 2000s, said Evan Allard of Vinita, Okla., who not only will be one of the combatants but also will serve as one of the protection bullfighters during the rodeo and will be providing the fighting bulls. “They were definitely glad to have it back.”
Sidney marks the 19th stop on the Bullfighters Only inaugural tour. Bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which are bred specifically for this type of fight.
“I think it’s a good thing we’ve all done to bring the bullfights back to where they belong,” Allard said. “It’s taken off because bullfighting is the greatest extreme sport in the world, and we have the best freestyle bullfighters alive all doing it right now.”
“It’s crazy to think this is our actual first year and that we have so many events at these historic rodeos,” said Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla. “For my first year to walk into an arena with such prestigious awards, it’s a true honor for me to fight bulls there.”
Iowa’s Championship Rodeo has a storied history. Dating back more than 90 years, Sidney’s rodeo has been a staple for many of the greatest cowboys and cowgirls in the sport. In fact, the event was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame last August.
“It’ll be cool stepping out in front of those people that have made Sidney such a great event,” Swisher said. “It’s a true blessing.”
So is the talent these men possess. It takes a special personality to not only dance with the bulls, but do it up close. Bullfighters not only engage with the stomping, aggressive and quick animals, but they do so in a series of maneuvers that showcases undeniable athleticism.
“The bulls drive me,” said Allard, who has been fighting bulls for 11 years. “Just knowing that you’re able to go head to head with one of the fiercest creatures alive and know that if everything goes right, you’re able to control him.
“It’s the art itself that drives me.”
When done well, it’s as if Picasso was painting an elaborate image on a dirt arena. There is a fury of movement, and it seems orchestrated; it isn’t. It fact, every movement is done based on instinct and an understanding of what the animal does.
It’s a display of man vs. beast, and Bullfighters Only has created a public demand for the sport.
“To me, Bullfighters Only is more like a group of brothers,” Swisher said of the top 15 bullfighters in the game that make up the BFO. “We all went in and are part of this team that helps in bringing the freestyle bullfights back in front of the fans. It’s something we’ve always wanted for so long.
“Even before there was even a thought of the BFO, we always stuck together and stuck our necks out for each other. We push each other to get better, and now we put a name on it.”
That name is well recognized in rodeo, and it’s why Bullfighters Only is part of many of the most prestigious events in the sport. That’s why the best in the business will be in Sidney for five magical nights.
SIDNEY CONTESTANTS
Evan Allard
Cody Webster
Justin Josey
Cody Greer
Ross Hill
Chuck Swisher
Byrce Redo
Beau Schueth
Travis James
Johnson wins Burlington crown
BURLINGTON, Colo. – Ross Johnson was excited just to be part of the Bullfighters Only tour stop Friday night in conjunction with the Kit Carson County ProRodeo.
He did it one better with an 86-point freestyle bullfight to win the title.
“Whenever Cory (Wall) called me and asked me to come up there, it was a big honor,” said Johnson of Merit, Texas. “Then he talked to us and said it was a BFO-sanctioned event, so that made it even bigger. To win it is just icing on the cake.
“It was awesome to be there, but winning it made it twice as good.”
A bullfighter for less than six years, there were lots of benefits to doing well in Burlington. Not only did Johnson collect $3,000 for the win, he also got to show off his talents before a great crowd and a bullfighting legend in Wall, who organizes the annual rodeo in his hometown.
“It means the world to have Cory see me fight or have anybody with that big of a name in rodeo,” Johnson said. “It’s a blessing to have a night like that. As an old bullfighter, the bullfights get him pumped up, too.
“We got to town Thursday and went out to the rodeo that. The whole night, they just kept promoting the bullfight. I guess it got through to some people, because it was packed out. They were really into it. After the bull riding, you didn’t see a single soul leave. I think they enjoyed the bullfight as much as we did.”
A big portion of his fun came in the form of a solid fight.
“When I called for the bull, I could tell he was definitely the ace of the group of bulls we had,” he said. “I did draw good; he was on me the whole time, and he kept pushing me.
“There was no time to think. It was all reaction and instinct; it was fun.”
As he gains more experience, Johnson will utilize his instincts and ability more. He hopes it carries him on to greater things in his career.
“Right now, I do some day work and fight bulls, but I want to be able to do this and not have to worry about having a typical job to make ends meet,” said Johnson, 23. “If I could do this full thing, then I’d be living a dream.
“I believe in the next five years, if I keep working at it, I could be up there with the top guys.”
He definitely has the right attitude.
BURLINGTON RESULTS
1. Ross Johnson, 86 points
2. Tanner Zarnetski, 84
3. Zach Flatt, 77
4. Kyle Lippincott, 75
5. Cody Emerson, 74
It's a hit at home
for Wall
Retired bullfighter teams with BFO to produce event at his hometown rodeo
BURLINGTON, Colo. – Even though he has retired before his title now, Cory Wall will forever be a bullfighter.
These days, though, his focus is closer to home. He’s added a few more titles to his name: Kit Carson County Commissioner, rodeo producer, husband and dad. They all matter to the Burlington man, and he puts them all together with the Kit Carson County ProRodeo.
He introduced freestyle bullfighting to the hometown crowd four summers ago, and this year he is teaming with Bullfighters Only to put on a tour event, set for Friday, July 29, in Burlington.
“As a bullfighter, I’ve always felt like what I did and what other bullfighters did was something you don’t see at every other rodeo,” said Wall, the 2009 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Bullfighter of the Year. “I knew that most of the people in my community had not seen what we could do.
“I wanted to bring in some different kind of entertainment than they were used to. Needless to say, it’s been a home run, and it’s been one of the most talked about things all year long.”
That appeal is the guiding force for Bullfighters Only, which is in its inaugural season. Bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which are bred specifically for this type of fight.
“I helped the BFO out in Vegas last December, and it looked like they had their stuff together,” Wall said. “They’re doing a great job of marketing and advertising and really selling that industry.
“I was contacted by the BFO wanting to know if I’d consider being a BFO event. I know most of those guys, and I thought it would be a great fit.”
All those things are attractive to the men who do this for a living.
“There is no other feeling that I’ve ever felt in my life than when I threw a fake, and this bull fell down right at my feet,” said Zach Flatt of Fittstown, Okla. “You feel like you can conquer the world.”
Flatt will be one of five bullfighters that will compete for the Kit Carson County ProRodeo Bullfighters Only title. Burlington is the 17th of 30 regular-season stops for the elite group of men who make up the BFO.
“It’s not just a group of bullfighters, and it’s not just a group of people wanting to put on a bullfight,” he said. “It’s a group of elite bullfighters wanting to team up and put this bullfight on and make it a showcase. Bullfighters Only literally has all the top guys in freestyle bullfighting.”
In fact, that’s what Wall liked most about having the BFO be part of his hometown event.
“I think they’re taking freestyle bullfighting to a new level,” Wall said. “You’ve got a bunch of young athletes that are spending time with each other day in and day out, and they’re challenging each other. They spend the whole week trying to outdo each other. By the time they get to an event, they’re doing some bizarre things, some incredibly athletic things.”
Flatt has showcased his talent before the Burlington crowd before, and he’s excited to make his return.
“I went to his bullfight two years ago, and it treated me really good,” he said. “It was a great rodeo and a great crowd, and it was an outstanding bullfight.
“It’s always great to be around somebody like Cory Wall. I’m sure he will be in the (ProRodeo) Hall of Fame for all he’s done. It’s always great to surround yourself with people like that.”
That’s just what Bullfighters Only is all about, and fans in Burlington will reap the rewards.
BURLINGTON CONTESTANTS
Cody Emerson
Kyle Lippincott
Ross Johnson
Tanner Zarnetski
Zach Flatt
There's a new man in the lead
Rutkowski slides past Jestes to take lead in
Bullfighters Only tour standings
The competitive fire that burns inside Weston Rutkowski has only been stirred.
This week he moved into the No. 1 spot in the Bullfighters Only tour standings, having earned $17,625 so far this season. But he’s not content.
“For a guy as competitive as I am, it’s difficult to finish second as often as I have,” said Rutkowski, 27, of Haskell. “This is a humbling sport.”
Freestyle bullfighting is exactly that. It’s man vs. beast, with scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
Rutkowski finished runner-up in a four-night Bullfighters Only event this past week in conjunction with California Rodeo Salinas, and those earnings shot him past season leader Nathan Jestes of Douglas, Wyo., by $550. He also finished in at least a tie for second in Arlington, Texas; Phoenix; Cedar Park, Texas; and Cody, Wyo.
“I’m fed up with being the bridesmaid,” Rutkowski said. “Second place isn’t good enough for me. Of course, if all of us were out for second, we wouldn’t be on board for this kind of competition. We all want to win.”
He has been in the winner’s circle, earning a key victory at the BFO that was part of the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo. He also posted the highest-marked fight last week in Salinas, an 88.5 to win the second go-round.
“Salinas definitely takes care of a lot of it,” he said. “It’s one of the richest bullfightings in the country. As legendary as that rodeo is, and as much as they care about bullfights, it goes a long way. The money you can win there sure helps a guy out.”
Of course, natural ability helps considerably, and that’s what fans see during a Bullfighters Only event; it features the top 15 bullfighters in the sport. More than anything, though, the men who are part of Bullfighters Only put in considerable work to maintain their status.
“It’s as much physical as it is mental,” Rutkowski said. “You’re not showing up at rodeos just reading the bulls and reacting; sometimes you have to take that fight to the animal.
“I’m huge on physical fitness. I work out every single day. I don’t have to question if I’m going to have the legs to get through it. I know I can go out there and do what I need to do from 40 to 60 seconds.”
It’s vital in a sport where the opponent is much bigger, stronger and faster to have the right attitude and the right talent. Fans see it, and so do the rodeos with which Bullfighters Only has associated itself.
“The general consensus we’re getting from the committees and the fans is that they’re loving it,” he said. “It’s a relatively old sport with a new twist, and with the social media that we’re putting out there, we’re able to share that with so many more people. Those that were around during the golden age of bullfighting are glad to have it back, and a lot of that has to do with the new twist and the new flair that the BFO brings.”
Rutkowski won’t rest too much on being the No. 1 man on tour. He will be back in action next week during the Bullfighters Only event at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo, then will return to the competition stage for the BFO event in conjunction with the Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Boothill Rodeo on Aug. 10-11.
“Every stop is huge, especially for a guy like me who finally grew into the lead,” Rutkowski said. “I’m not someone who wants to give that up, and I’m going to do all I can to stay on top. My goal is to win the first year tour and be crowned the first true world champion in freestyle bullfighting in 16 years.”.
BULLFIGHTERS ONLY TOUR
STANDINGS
(As of July 25, 2016)
1. Weston Rutkowski, Haskell, Texas, $17,625
2. Nate Jestes, Douglas, Wyo., $17,075
3. Cody Webster, Wayne, Okla., $15,000
4. Ross Hill, Muscle Shoals, Ala., $13,310
5. Beau Schueth, Norfolk, Neb., $9,250
6. Nathan Harp, Tuttle, Okla., $8,340
7. Evan Allard, Vinita, Okla., $8,250
8. Schell Apple, Fay, Okla., $7,100
9. Chuck Swisher, Dover, Okla., $5,300
10. Dusty Tuckness, Meeteetse, Wyo., $5,250
Harp wins Salinas battle
SALINAS, Calif. – Since he first strapped on a pair of cleats and decided that bullfighting was his career of choice, Nathan Harp has wanted to win California Rodeo Salinas.
He accomplished that goal over the past few nights of Bullfighters Only competition, winning the championship with a four-fight cumulative total of 325.5 points. He won the first and third rounds, was runner-up in the second round and finished off the week with a third-place finish Sunday.
“I went first (in the final round), so I had to sweat it out and wait for everybody else to go,” said Harp, 26, of Tuttle, Okla. “It’s an honor to be in an elite group of bullfighters that’s won a buckle from here.”
Harp held a one-point lead over Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas, heading into the final day. The Oklahoman posted a 78-point fight to kick-start the afternoon’s competition, and Rutkowski followed two fights later with a 76.
The Texan finished second overall with 322.5 points, followed by Ross Hill of Muscle Shoals, Ala., a point behind Rutkowski. Hill, a 10-year veteran of the Salinas fights, won the final round with an 85-point bout Sunday afternoon.
“I thought Weston or Ross could’ve won it this year,” Harp said. “Both of them were drawing good and putting on great bullfights.”
Salinas has been one of the freestyle bullfighting leaders for years, this year teamed with Bullfighters Only, the top 15 bullfighters in the game who are all battling for the first world championship in the BFO’s inaugural season.
“There’s a lot of history here,” Harp said. “As you’re coming up through the ranks, everybody hears about the top freestyle bullfights, which have been Ardmore (Okla.) and Salinas. Those were the top two bullfights you could go to. Now there are a lot more bullfights, especially with the BFO. That’s great for bullfighting.”
It helps, too, that the men were matched with great bulls that were bred to be part of this kind of fight.
“We only get to see these bulls once a year,” Harp said of the herd in Salinas. “This is the only place they get any outs, so even the older bulls are a lot like fresh bulls. It’s a lot of fun coming out to Salinas. It has beautiful weather, great bulls and a great rodeo.”
And the competition – featuring six of the greatest bullfighters in the game – makes for a true challenge.
“You’re mentally exhausted from the stress of getting ready to freestyle bullfight for four days,” he said. “Winning this title is amazing. To beat some of these guys, it’s definitely a blessing to come out on top.”
Nobody knows better than Harp.
SALINAS RESULTS
1. Nathan Harp, 325.5 points on four fights
2. Weston Rutkowski, 322.5
3. Ross Hill, 321.5
Home of Bullfighting
California Rodeo Salinas, Bullfighters Only team up
for this year's championship
SALINAS, Calif. – Ask any freestyle bullfighter that’s ever been to this beautiful California city, they will tell you what a special place it is.
For more than a century, California Rodeo Salinas has been a staple in this community of 155,000 people. For decades, bullfighting has been a key fixture to the traditional showcase, and tens of thousands of fans show up every year for all the excitement.
“Salinas has kept freestyle bullfighting alive,” said Nathan Harp of Tuttle, Okla., pointing out that major tours for the sport had been dormant for 16 years; still California Rodeo Salinas continue to conduct the events. “That crowd is hard to beat, and that place is so cool.
“After the bull riding, everything shuts down and everybody goes to the grandstands. They have fireworks, and then they have the bullfight. It’s a big deal. It’s really great to be part of the bullfights in Salinas. It’s definitely one I want to win.”
He and five other men will get that chance when the Bullfighters Only produces this year’s championship event, part of its inaugural tour.
“California Rodeo Salinas is happy to work with BFO in our 2016 show,” said Henry Dill, the rodeo’s track director. “California is very proud of our freestyle bullfighting event – considered one of the premier freestyle bullfighting event in the rodeo industry – and in working with BFO.
“We hope to grow the sport and fan base of freestyle bullfighting.”
So is Bullfighters Only, which features the best bullfighters in the world in man-vs.-beast bouts.
With scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
Bullfighters Only has created public demand for the sport. The bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which are bred specifically for this type of fight.
In west-central California, the folks in Salinas have a better understanding than most what a great showcase freestyle bullfighting is.
“There are a lot of Portuguese people out there, and bullfighting has a huge following because of that,” said Ross Hill of Muscle Schoals, Ala., now in his 10th year competing in Salinas. “Salinas set their stone a long time ago. There’s an atmosphere there around the bullfights.
“They can fit 24,000 people in their stands. It’s huge and crazy.”
There are many reasons why freestyle bullfighting has been so popular in Salinas, but the main ingredients are athleticism mixed with a splash of suspense and danger. It’s better than an evening at the movies.
“That place is just full of world champions that have camped there, like Evan Allard, Cody Webster and Rob Smets,” Harp said. “It’s the place where champions go.”
SALINAS CONTESTANTS
Weston Rutkowski
Nathan Harp
Cody Emerson
Erick Schwindt
Ross Hill
Donny Castle
PHOTO BY TODD BREWER
Bullfights added to
Round Up Mix
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Dodge City Roundup is getting a little more extreme.
By teaming with upstart Bullfighters Only, the annual rodeo is bringing back the tradition of freestyle bullfighting in conjunction with its Xtreme Bulls Tour event for the inaugural A Whole Lotta Bull.
“For a long time, Roundup was a major stop on Wrangler Bullfights Tour,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the committee that produces the annual rodeo. “When that tour stopped, I think there were a lot of people who wanted to see it back in Dodge City.
“Will Bullfighters Only coming on the scene, we thought now was a great time to bring the bullfights back. That’s why we developed A Whole Lotta Bull.”
Xtreme Bulls will kick off the festivities at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Roundup Arena. This marks the third year for event to be part of the annual celebration and features the top bull riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Two seasons ago, Utah cowboy Tim Bingham capitalized on his win in western Kansas to qualify to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time. A year ago, Louisianan Jacob O’Mara claimed the title and nearly $5,000; he finished 2015 19th in the world standings, just missing out on the NFR.
“We’ve had great success in the Xtreme Bulls,” Trotter said. “By bringing in the bullfights, I think it adds another element to our Tuesday night performance that our fans will really enjoy, and that’s our primary purpose at Roundup.”
Bullfighters Only was established about a year ago, and the tour was developed this year. The Dodge City competition will feature five competitors in a showcase of athletic maneuvers waged against aggressive fighting bulls. The three men who serve as cowboy protection for the Xtreme Bulls – Wacey Munsell of Ulysses, Kan.; Nathan Jestes of Douglas, Wyo.; and Dusty Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyo. – will make up part of the field.
“When Dodge City showed interest in having some freestyle bullfights, they contacted Tuckness and I,” said Jestes, who then guided the rodeo committee to the BFO.
Said Tuckness, “Bringing in the freestyle action with Bullfighters Only is something I think everyone will enjoy. I’m excited to get there. It’s another great rodeo that we get to be part of.”
Bullfighters Only features the top men in the game. With more than 30 events on the tour, the competition in Dodge City is a vital stop on the BFO’s tour.
“I came to Dodge City for the first time last year, and I didn’t know what to expect,” Jestes said. “I knew it was a great and prestigious rodeo, but throughout the six days I was there, it quickly became one of my favorite rodeos all year. The committee treats me very well and puts on a great rodeo.
“It’s one of the best rodeos in the industry, and it’s a huge honor and dang sure a feather in my cap for my career to be there.”
Winning the inaugural Bullfighters Only title in Dodge City would just add more feathers
PHOTO BY ANDY WATSON
Tuckness wins at home
CODY, Wyo. – Dusty Tuckness knows Stampede Park as well as anyone.
He grew up around the storied arena, home to much of rodeo’s history. Raised along the Greybull River half an hour south in Meeteetse, Wyo., the 30-year-old bullfighter has spent plenty of time inside the arena; that includes the last 13 years in cowboy protection at the Cody Stampede.
On Thursday night during the Bullfighters Only freestyle bullfight in Cody, Tuckness put on a show by himself, dancing across the arena dirt with a speedy and agile red bull for 91.5 points. Not only is it the highest-marked fight in Bullfighters Only’s brief history, it earned propelled him to the title of the fight, held in conjunction with the Cody/Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls.
“He was a pretty good bull from Darrell Diefenbach,” said Tuckness, the reigning six-time Bullfighter of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “We had a bunch of young bulls in this pen, so we really didn’t know what to expect out of them. I had the pick of the night.
“He kept coming at me, so I got to break him down a little bit. We made a few rounds, and I worked a few step-throughs.”
He finished much better than he started. As Tuckness attempted to jump the bull to begin the fight, the animal got just enough of the bullfighter to spin him to the ground.
“We got the crowd on the edge of their seat to start it,” he said. “Then I went to work and was able to sell it with a jump at the end.”
With scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
“We just got off our first big stand-alone event in Cedar Park (Texas), and we wanted to build off our momentum there,” Tuckness said. “I was glad to be part of this event here in my backyard.
“Praise God I drew the bull to have tonight. It worked out to win and have the fellowship and the fan base and fight in front of my family and friends. It was a good night and a good crowd.”
Bullfighters Only is a freestyle bullfighting showcase of the top 15 men in the game. While Tuckness tests his skills against each bull he fights through the season, he does so in a competition with several others. In Cody, Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas, finished in a tie for second with Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo.; both men scored 87 points.
“I talked to the (Cody rodeo) committee, and a lot of them were pretty happy with the bullfights,” Tuckness said. “The biggest thing was that the crowd loved it and stayed around. We signed autographs after it was over for probably an hour and a half, so that was great.
“It’s an honor to compete in this event, and I thank the Stampede for letting us do it.”
CODY RESULTS
1. Dusty Tuckness, 91.5 points
2/3. (tie) Weston Rutkowski and Nate Jestes, 87
4. Cody Webster, 86
5. Chuck Swisher, 80
The fight is on in Cody
Bullfighters Only athletes will be Stampeding into legendary rodeo
CODY, Wyo. – Before Dusty Tuckness embarked on a bullfighting career, he was a boy growing up in Meeteetse, Wyo., hoping to be one of the best ever.
His dreams are coming true.
Tuckness will share his passion and showcase his incredible talents throughout the Cody Stampede, just as he has done every year since 2007. He will step it up even more Thursday during the Bullfighters Only freestyle bullfight that runs in conjunction with the Cody/Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls. The action-packed evening will begin at 8 p.m. MST.
“It’s awesome to be able to work that rodeo but also the fact that we’re bringing freestyle bullfighting back to Cody,” said Tuckness, the reigning six-time Bullfighter of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “Having Bullfighters Only involved and having the best bullfighters in the world there just makes it even better.
“It’s one of the best rodeos all year long.”
Tuckness will be one of five men that are part of the competition. They will be matched against speedy, agile and aggressive fighting bulls that have been bred specifically for this type of competition.
“I worked that rodeo last year for the first time,” said Cody Webster of Wayne, Okla., who won the BFO’s first stand-alone freestyle bullfight Sunday night near Austin, Texas. “The Cody Stampede is something else. It has packed crowds, and it’s wild.
“Now we get to have an awesome bullfight to go with it.”
Bullfighters Only is still in its infancy. In fact, the organization just celebrated its first year in existence, and, oh, how that toddler has grown in such a short amount of time.
The tour was established, and the Cody Stampede will be the 15th of more than 30 stops through the regular season. Freestyle bullfighting is not new to rodeo, and the Bullfighters Only has created public demand for the sport. The events feature man vs. beast in a head-to-head battle inside an arena. The bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls.
“I’ve had one of my stand-alone freestyle bullfights there before, and they really liked and enjoyed it,” Tuckness said. “Now we’re stepping it up a notch with Bullfighters Only. We’re bringing in (Darrell Diefenbach’s) 12X Fighting Bulls. It’s going to be the best freestyle athletes going.” That makes for quite a show.
The BFO buzz has continued to build. That’s why many of the most prestigious events in ProRodeo are on the BFO tour schedule. Events with that much history stand as proof to the incredible showcase that is out there for the Bullfighters Only athletes.
“We’re trying to grow the sport and bring it back to the main stage,” Tuckness said. “We’ve got a great group of guys and great support. The fan base is growing.
“There’s just so much excitement to freestyle bullfighting. It’s an event that hasn’t had a true world champion since 2000. Bullfighters Only is bringing that back while also keeping an eye out for the young talent. We want the best of the best. The main stage is where it belongs. The energy and the level of excitement is second to none.”
CODY CONTESTANTS
Dusty Tuckness, Meeteetse, Wyo.
Nate Jestes, Douglas, Wyo.
Cody Webster, Wayne, Okla.
Weston Rutkowski, Haskell, Texas
Chuck Swisher, Dover, Okla.
Webster wins Cavender’s Cup
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Cody Webster looks at Sunday’s Bullfighters Only Cavender’s Cup victory a little different than most champions.
“I fought two bulls, won almost $12,000 and got to hang out with my best friends,” said Webster of Wayne, Okla. “It was our first stand-alone Bullfighters Only event, so to win it is killer. This is a group of guys that are not only my best friends, but we’ve stuck together to make this work. We’re doing what we love and trying to make something of the BFO.”
The Cavender’s Cup featured the top 15 bullfighters in the game all competing in a major league freestyle bullfight. Matched against aggressive and athletic bulls that have been bred for this type of fight, the men were able to showcase their abilities to the fullest.
Webster just happened to be the king of the mountain inside the HEB Center at Cedar Park. By winning his preliminary go-round, he advanced to the short round, where he and his bull danced across the arena dirt for 88.5 points. That score was matched by Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas; Webster claimed the title by winning the tie-breaker, which referred to the highest bullfighter score.
With scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
“My long-round bull was a bull I had out in Salinas, Calif., a few years ago,” said Webster, who pocketed $11,750 for the victory. “We got a long good, and I got the win in my round.”
The event featured five three-man rounds, with the round-winners advancing to the championship. Scores from the preliminary rounds were then thrown out, and the top scores earned the lion’s share of the prize pool. The bullfighters were also matched with animals that had not been in a bullfighting arena before.
“I like that concept,” Webster said. “It comes down to the bullfighters score because the bulls should be pretty evenly matched.
“To even get to be part of this bullfight is great. It’s the best guys in the business. To come in and win the event, that’s something that’s very special. It was a good event and a really good bullfight.”
The earnings will push Webster into the top three in the Bullfighters Only world standings.
“The funny thing about that is our summer run of rodeos is just kicking off,” he said, adding that the Cedar Park event was the 14th of more than 30 stops on the tour. “We’ve got another bullfight in just a few days, and I’m going to nod my head on another set of fighting bulls. That’s what’s fun. Everybody wants to win, but we also cheer each other on.”
That camaraderie is the backbone of Bullfighters Only, and it’s what makes the competition so much fun for the combatants and fans alike.
“I want Bullfighters Only to be part of every major event,” Webster said. “Freestyle bullfighting is what put me on the map, and we have a bunch of young bullfighters who have a lot of talent. I want us to get to where we provide an avenue for those young guys.”
Webster is just 24 years old, but he’s a veteran. He proved Sunday that the streets leading to Bullfighters Only’s future are heading in the right direction.
CAVENDER’S CUP RESULTS
Round 1: Cody Greer, 84 points
Round 2: Tanner Zarnetski, 86
Round 3: Cody Webster, 85.5
Round 4: Justin Josey, 84.5
Round 5: Weston Rutkowski, 89.5
Championship round: Cody Webster, 88.5
GOING AFTER THE CAVENDER'S CUP
June 23rd, 2016 | Author: Ted Harbin
Top 15 bullfighters will battle for the title at the inaugural Cavender’s Cup
CEDAR PARK, Texas – For decades, freestyle bullfighting has been an undercard event.
Bullfighters Only is making it the main event.
That’s the primary focus of the Cavender’s Cup, set for 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at the HEB Center at Cedar Park. It will be a true showcase, and the top bullfighters in the game will make sure of that.
“The first Bullfighters Only event we had was a stand-alone freestyle bullfight in Las Vegas, and we made a statement,” said Nathan Harp, 26, of Tuttle, Okla. “This is going to be the richest one-day bullfight that I know about. We keep pushing the envelope, keep breaking new boundaries and seeing how far we can go from there.”
The Cavender’s Cup will feature the top 15 in a series of man-vs.-beast bouts, whereby the bullfighters use their athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which were bred specifically for this kind of fight.
In addition to Harp, the all-star lineup also includes the likes of Dusty Tuckness, Cody Webster, Weston Rutkowski, Chuck Swisher, Ross Hill, Cody Greer, Schell Apple, Beau Schueth and more.
“To me, we’ve got the best 15 guys wrapped up in Bullfighters Only,” said Ross Hill, 32, of Muscle Schoals, Ala. “Being the top 15 guys and sticking together to see this thing through is pretty cool.”
Imagine standing face to face with a 1,300-pound bull that possesses great speed, quick feet and intimidating horns. That’s exactly what freestyle bullfighters see any time they are in the ring, and that’s what makes it exciting.
“The really cool thing about freestyle bullfighting is that it’s just really simple to understand,” Hill said. “It’s a game of cat and mouse, except the mouse weights a lot more than 20 pounds and can flat run over you. It’s easy to follow, and it’s a little more self-explanatory than some extreme events.
“It’s man vs. beast. We’re the last of the gladiators. There aren’t a whole lot of sports out there where you can show your skill around a bull.”
It’s exciting to watch and entices spectators into the middle of the action, which is fast and furious and features true athleticism by men and bovines. Possibly the rankest bull in the game, Hookin’ A Ranch’s Spaniard, will be part of the mix. Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla., was 89 points to win in Little Rock, Ark., earlier this year; he also is the only bullfighter not to be hooked by Spaniard.
“You’re either going to see something really cool, or you’re going to see a really cool hooking,” Harp said. “Either way, it’s going to be really awesome.”
That’s exactly what fans are looking for in Cedar Park, a community of more than 61,000 people on the north edge of Austin, Texas. The Cavender’s Cup will be an exciting conclusion to a three-day Western sports experience, the perfect headliner to two days of bull riding.
The event will be broken down into five three-man rounds. The top finisher from each round will advance to the championship round. From there, the bullfighter with the best score will be crowned champion.
“I really think this is going to be just the first of many stand-alone bullfights we do in the BFO,” Harp said. “This is an opportunity that we can do more, that we can have a full show of freestyle bullfighting. There is a market for stand-alone bullfights, and I really think there are a lot of people that love to watch freestyle bullfighting.
“Bullfighters Only is a great opportunity to do what we love. It’s more important for us to take freestyle bullfighting to another level, one that nobody in my generation has ever seen. I wouldn’t be at my level in my career without freestyle bullfighting.”
The Cavender’s Cup is the 14th stop on a tour of more than 30 events. At the conclusion of the season, the first Bullfighters Only world champion will be crowned.
“I want it, and I want it bad,” said Hill, an established veteran in the game. “I want to show my friends that I have as much confidence in myself as they do in me.”
Confidence is vital in bullfighting. Going head-to-head against a living, breathing, stomping bovine is no place for anyone who lacks it.
“What’s really cool about the BFO is that everybody has a chance to win the world this year,” Harp said. “It’s brought all the top dogs to one spot and let them fight it out.”
The next step toward that world title is in Cedar Park.
TICKETS - www.hebcenter.com/events/detail/bullfighters-only
RUTKOWSKI TAKES RENO TITLE
RENO, Nev. – A quick, little black bull tried to get the best of Weston Rutkowski, but the Haskell, Texas, bullfighter didn’t let it happen.
In fact, it turned out to be a winning combination for Rutkowski, who scored 88 points to win Wednesday night the Bullfighters Only event that took place in conjunction with the Reno Rodeo.
“I’ve dreamed about coming to these rodeos since I was a kid,” said Rutkowski, 27, of Haskell, Texas. “To come and compete is great, but to come here and win is something that I could only dream about. The fact that the BFO got to come here and be in the Reno Rodeo means a lot to us as bullfighters.”
Rutkowski’s distanced himself from his fellow bullfighters with a strong performance against an equally strong bull. In fact, all three bulls in Wednesday’s championship round were brothers to the great fighting bull Spaniard, which has been recognized as the best in freestyle bullfighting.
“I had a great bull, and that helped a lot,” said Rutkowski, who posted an 85-point score to win Sunday’s first round. “These bulls were all brothers, so they were a lot alike.”
Rutkowski’s bull worked a little better for his style, and the score proved it. Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo., who won the second round, finished second with 85 points; Round 3 winner Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla., was 82 for third.
“The main difference between Nate’s fight and my fight was that his bull didn’t give him a chance to get his distance,” Rutkowski said. “When Nate was throwing his fake, his bull wouldn’t go all the way through. Maybe it was a little bit smarter. It’s hard to get your distance, and it’s hard to do with this bloodline.”
That wasn’t the case with his bull.
“I knew these bulls were going to fight because of their bloodlines, but I wasn’t sure because they had never been out in a freestyle match,” he said. “You can’t play too much into it; you just need to read the animals and make your moves accordingly. That’s what freestyle bullfighting is about.
In all, Rutkowski pocketed more than $3,000 in Reno and moved into the top five of the Bullfighters Only standings. Jestes is still the No. 1 man in the BFO.
“It means everything for us as Bullfighters Only to be part of the Reno Rodeo,” Rutkowski said. “For me to come to this event the first year of a BFO event, then win it, is great. It’s just so exciting, and it’s the first stepping stone.
“In a few days, we’ll all be fighting at our first big-time, stand-alone Bullfighters Only event, the Cavender’s Cup. These are exciting times to be a freestyle bullfighter.”
It’s just beginning.
MAKING THEIR WAY TO RENO
Bullfighters Only to feature elite contestants during prestigious Reno Rodeo
RENO, Nev. – Not many would stare a beast in the eyes. Fewer yet would tangle with it.
But nine men will get that opportunity Sunday-Thursday when the Bullfighters Only Tour hits western Nevada for a four-night affair in conjunction with the annual Reno Rodeo.
“It’s very humbling to be able to work a rodeo that’s as prestigious, but as the cliché goes, hard work pays off,” said bullfighter Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas. “For some reason, freestyle bullfighting wasn’t cool for a long time, but there was a handful of us who stayed with it. Now the fruits of our labor are paying off.”
Bullfighters Only is still in its infancy. In fact, the organization just celebrated its first year in existence, and oh, how that toddler has grown in such a short amount of time.
“Bullfighters Only almost started by accident,” said Nate Jestes of Douglas, Wyo. “Aaron Ferguson started his website, and we were to showing off our abilities as a way to market the website. It was set up as a place for bullfighters to get things they might need. It was going to be a one-stop shop for bullfighters.
“It went on from there to putting on an event in Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo. I think ‘Ferg’ always had a vision for freestyle bullfighting as a sport, and he wanted to try his hand at putting on an event. It became a huge success, and a lot of people – a lot of people in the industry – showed interest in it.”
The tour was established, and the Reno Rodeo will be the 13th of more than 30 stops through the regular season. Freestyle bullfighting is not new to rodeo, and the Bullfighters Only has created public demand for the sport. The events feature man vs. beast in a head-to-head battle inside an arena. The bullfighters utilize their tremendous athleticism to try to outwit and outmaneuver equally athletic bulls, which were bred for this kind of fight.
With scores based on a 100-point scale, men can earn up to 50 points per fight based on their ability to exhibit control and style while maneuvering around or over an animal; a bull can earn up to 50 points based on its quickness, aggression and willingness to stay with the bullfighter.
Jestes and Rutkowski will be joined in Reno by Schell Apple of Fay, Okla.; Beau Schueth of O’Neill, Neb.; Evan Allard of Vinita, Okla.; Cody Greer of Chelsea, Okla.; Chuck Swisher of Dover, Okla; Zach Flatt of Fittstown, Okla.; and Ross Hill of Muscle Schoals, Ala.
“In my opinion, Bullfighters Only is the most elite set of guys that have ever been involved in freestyle bullfighting,” Jestes said. “There hasn’t been a set of 15 guys that are as strong and as talented that are going down the road at this time. It’s not only the elite guys, but the elite bulls, too.
“These are the kinds of bulls that allow us to showcase our abilities and our talents. We’re fighting bulls that are good, fun to fight and are fun to watch. I think that’s what sets Bullfighters Only apart from other freestyle events. It’s the best guys, it’s the best bulls, and it’s the best freestyle competition around.”
The growth of the BFO has been phenomenal. It features the top 15 in the sport and has reached more than 50 million people through its Facebook page with more than 12 million video views. It’s Instagram page has more than 51,000 engaged followers. Bullfighters Only paid out more than $125,000 to the contestants that play the game.
From national television coverage through its relationship with bull riding and The American to regular coverage on Rural Radio-Sirius 147, the buzz has continued to build.
The bulls are bred to be aggressive, and nothing is done to make them that way. In Reno, retired bullfighter Darrel Diefenbach will provide the animals through his 12X Fighting Bulls.
“This is an exciting time to see freestyle bullfighting,” Rutkowski said. “We, as Bullfighters Only, have brought back the extreme aspect of what us bullfighters do day in and day out.
“Now I’m getting the opportunity to go to some rodeos I’ve always dreamed about like Reno and Pendleton (Ore.) and Cody (Wyo.). I’ve heard about these rodeos since I was a little kid from my uncles, who all rode broncs there.”
In fact, many of the most prestigious events in ProRodeo are on the BFO tour schedule. Events with that much history stand as proof to the incredible showcase that is out there for the Bullfighters Only athletes.
“It’s definitely been a great whirlwind,” Jestes said. “It’s taken off way quicker than any of us expected. It’s so exciting that it’s almost overwhelming. We’ve wanted to be at places like this and have the sport where it’s at. To be involved in it and have some ownership in it is just amazing.
“In less than one year, we have gotten our sport and our type of bullfighting known worldwide. That’s just incredible.”
Men put their lives on the line through bouts with fast, agile, hoof-pounding machines. It’s the measure of a man that will face any adversity and find a way through every step, and it’s heading to Reno starting Sunday.
“This is our job every day,” Rutkowski said. “This is what we love to do. If you love something, you have no choice but to make it succeed. With all of us coming together as a team, we are Bullfighters Only. We are bound and determined to see this thing through.”
Each step the BFO has taken has been uphill and done at a rapid pace, but that’s the nature of freestyle bullfighting. Fighting bulls move quickly and swiftly, and the men who are in battle must do that, too, in order to not only be one of the best, but also to survive.
“What’s cool about Bullfighters Only is that the top 15 guys are part of what we call the Pioneer Project,” Jestes said. “It’s 15 of the sport’s best. We’re in it for each other and for the sport of freestyle bullfighting. No matter who wins, we’re happy for each other. It’s pretty amazing.”.
Photo by Todd Brewer
Top: Logan Blasdell, Evan Allard Front: Justin Jacobucci, Justin Josey, Beau Schueth, Schell Apple, Zach Flatt, Nate Jestes, Dusty Tuckness, Aaron Ferguson, Weston Rutkowski, Nathan Harp, Cody Webster, Chuck Swisher, Cody Greer, Ross Hill, Joey Austin. Missing: Erick Schwindt.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BFO bullfighters form historic pact
SAN ANTONIO, TX – May 12, 2016 – Founded by pro bullfighter Aaron Ferguson, Bullfighters Only (BFO) was created to promote growth, popularity, and acceptance of freestyle bullfighting worldwide. Since its inception, BFO has evolved to become a platform that serves to excite the western community, educate both the avid and casual fans, and present the sport to an entirely new audience.
In a showing of solidarity, the top-ranked bullfighters in the world have formed an exclusive alliance known as the BFO Pioneer Project. Through this coalition, Bullfighters Only can ensure that the direction of freestyle bullfighting is guided by its athletes and guarantee its fans more action-packed entertainment from the sport’s greatest bullfighters.
“To be a part of the Pioneer Project is a blessing,” explains Dusty Tuckness, six-time and reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. “This group of guys is standing together and it’s a brotherhood – bullfighters for bullfighters. BFO is changing the game of freestyle bullfighting.”
Fellow freestyle veteran Ross Hill agrees. “It’s such a ground-breaking movement. The Pioneer Project allows us (the bullfighters) to control the destiny of our sport. This is our passion. We want to advance freestyle bullfighting, not just for this generation, but for the generations to come.”
The talented group is fresh off of another successful BFO Session, an experimental action-sports style event that introduces a new flare to the western sports world. They are now preparing for the BFO’s first stand-alone title fight on June 26, 2016 at the Cedar Park Center - an 8,700 seat state-of-the-art arena near Austin, TX.
Bullfighters Only will also announce partnerships to create a global qualification system that spans from amateur events to the World Championship. These partnerships will give non-BFO Pros the opportunity to become part of the current BFO roster and compete on tour. This system will also serve as a way for current BFO Pros to gain extra championship qualification points.
To stay up to date with all of the latest news, follow Bullfighters Only on social media or visit www.bullfightersonly.com.
Making the big move
Lippincott, Rhoads win qualifiers to advance to BFO Las Vegas Championship
LAS VEGAS – Tate Rhoads and Kyle Lippincott knew they needed to do something special during Friday’s Bullfighters Only qualifier if they were to advance to next week’s BFO Las Vegas Championship.
They did. Both men started their fights at the Las Vegas Convention Center with flat-footed jumps. It paid off as Rhoads won Round 1 with an 84-point fight with WAR Fighting Bulls Wicked Ways; Lippincott was 83.5 in his bout with WAR’s War Machine.
Now they will move on to fight at the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com. It will feature a $50,000 purse and also include two more qualifiers that will advance through competition that takes place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“A couple of buddies told me to go big or go home,” said Rhoads of Bighorn, Mont. “I just wanted to get that flat-footed jump right out of there, and he ended up smoking me in the knee. I got up and continued the fight. I got a little barrel hop at the end and sold the fight the way I needed to.”
It was a similar type fight for Lippincott, who cleared his jump cleanly, then ran into a little trouble midway through the bout.
“When I flat-footed him, he blew by,” said Lippincott of Wilson, Okla., who had to clear a fence in order to avoid trouble. “I have a tendency of using that fence, and I trap myself for some reason. It ticked me off, and I knew I had to go back harder to make up for it.”
Now he’ll be part of the first round of the tournament-style competition at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“Last year I came in the qualifier round as well and made it to the last day before I got beat,” Lippincott said. “To be in the championship to be able to play with everybody else is everything.
“My confidence has not been where it needed to be. Today it helped out, and my confidence is real high heading into the next round.”
It takes high levels of self-worth to be successful in freestyle bullfighting, where men face athletic and aggressive animals that have been bred for this kind of competition.
“It means the world to me to get this win,” Rhoads said. “My aunt and cousin were killed in a tragic car accident a couple weeks ago, and I wanted to come out here and do this for them.
“It’s unreal that I get to do this, and I can’t even put it into words.”
Part of it is just being part of the top freestyle bullfighting organization in the world.
“There’s no other organization out there that’s growing freestyle bullfighting so fast,” he said. “It’s unreal to be out here and to be part of this.”
That includes next weekend’s purse of $50,000, which helps make the BFO Las Vegas Championship the richest bullfight in the sport’s history.
“Bullfighters Only has created a brand that allows guys to be showy and try to make freestyle bullfighting better,” Lippincott said. “Now we’re fighting for a certain title. That is something that’s special in the BFO.”
