CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Ezekiel Mitchell of Rockdale, Texas, emerged victorious at the Camping World PBR Last Cowboy Standing event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, by outlasting reigning PBR World Champion Cassio Dias from Sao F. de Sales, Brazil. The competition, spanning two nights, saw Mitchell go 3-for-5, demonstrating resilience and skill.
On Monday night, Mitchell rode three bulls, which included several re-rides, securing a fourth-place finish and advancing to Round 2. Anticipating a tougher challenge on Tuesday night, the 27-year-old Austin Gamblers athlete remained focused.
During Round 2, Mitchell faced Rorschach (Universal Pro Rodeo/ Rachel & Dustin Howell/ Delmas/ Williams), but he was thrown off after 4.28 seconds. Despite this, he advanced to Round 3, where he successfully rode Dangerous Medicine (Hart Cattle Company) with a score of 79 points, allowing him to proceed to Round 4.
In the four-man Round 4, Mitchell achieved an impressive 84.5-point ride on War Daddy (TNT Bucking Bulls/ Hart Cattle Co), eliciting cheers from the crowd. The final round saw him competing against Cassio Dias, the 2024 PBR World Champion. However, Mitchell was bucked off I’m Legit Too (Hart Cattle Co/ Hale) after just 2.6 seconds.
Dias also faced a tough challenge on Renegade (Hale/ Vella/ Ogden/ Hart), managing to stay on for 4.68 seconds before being thrown off, which secured the win for Mitchell. With this victory, Mitchell not only earned a $50,000 prize but also gained 235 Challenger Global points, propelling him into the Top 5 in the standings. His win also garnered an additional $40,000 bonus for his team, the Austin Gamblers, from the PBR Teams League.
The event in Cheyenne featured 50 riders initially, with 11 qualifying for Round 2 based on their Monday performances. The remaining spots for Round 2 were filled by the next fastest times. The top 8 riders from Round 2 advanced to Round 3, and the top 4 from there proceeded to Round 4. The final round pitted the top performers, Mitchell and Dias, against each other, with Mitchell ultimately claiming the title.
Cassio Dias finished in second place, earning 155 Challenger Global points and moving to No. 21 in the standings. Dias’s notable rides included an 87.5-point performance on Erik the Red (Tommy Julian/ Craig Moore/ D&H Cattle) in the first round on Tuesday and an 84.25-point ride on Killer Bee (Hart Cattle Company) in Round 4, despite falling off Rowdy (Ogden Ranch/ Hart Cattle Co.) in Round 3.
