The Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore hosted The Chickasaw Nation 2023 World Championship Rodeo Bullfight Finals and Concert on Friday, September 15 and Saturday, September 16.
The Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore hosted The Chickasaw Nation 2023 World Championship Rodeo Bullfight Finals and Concert on Friday, September 15 and Saturday, September 16. Friday night's events kicked off with a performance from Oklahoma’s favorite Cody Canada and The Departed. Saturday night's concert was by national country recording artist John Wolf. Each night also had entertainment from everyone's favorite rodeo clown, Keith Isley and the One Armed Bandit, John Payne.
On hand for the events were last year’s 2022 World Champion Bullfighter, Justin Martin and 2023 Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, Allie Baker. In a round-robin-style competition, the 15 Freestyle Bullfighters came out to not only put on an exhilarating event but to also showcase their athletic abilities going up against Mexican fighting bulls. The bullfighter competed for 60 seconds against a fighting bull in an effort to score points for maneuvers performed during the one- minute competition.
They are judged solely on their ability to perform dangerous stunts as close to the bull as possible without getting hit. Using maneuvers like Back Fake, Knee Fake, and Back Reverse Fake the bullfighters make an effort to score points. The fighters can earn up to 50 points, while the bulls can also earn up to 50 points, as well. Adding the two scores together for a total score of 100 points; a great fight can be anywhere from 88 to 90 points in most fights.
Each bullfighter and bull are judged on their performance, gaining or losing points along the way. With names like I Gotta Pee, Touchdown, Field Goal, and Honkey Tonk, the bulls put on a show as well. They are judged on willingness to en- gage (hook up), difficulty of being fought, and if the bull is slow to engage the fighter. Chance Mooreman, currently ranked #1 in UBF, said he had a preference on which bull he pulls.
“Red Bulls tend to be my favorite, they tend to do me really good,” Mooreman said.
On the roster for the weekend's event was Madill’s two favorite Ultimate BullFighters, Dylan Idlemand and Dekevis Jordan. Going into the event Saturday night, Jordan was the winner from the night before with 88.5 points. Jordan, who is currently ranked #2 in UBF, took on Trenton Ross of Stratford, Okla., and Mooreman of Lytle, Texas in round three.
He was able to advance to the final round after winning a total of 84.5 points. Idle- man, ranked #6 in current UBF standings, put on a good showing in round five but was unable to earn enough points to advance to the finals, losing out to Tyler Mansell who scored 87.5 in that round. In the final round of the event, Colby Lindsey of Kentucky came out the winner with 86.5 points going up against Bump and Grind, beating out Knox Dunn of Louisiana, Mansell of Idaho, Connor Quesnsada of Colorado, and Jordan of Madill.
Both Madill natives put on a great show of athleticism and just plain gutsiness. Idleman said he fell in love with the sport when he was a teenager.
“I was 16 and saw some friends trying it back home, I tried it and have been loving it ever since,” Idleman said.
He said a bull by the name of Hugh Heffner from a 2020 event in Ft. Worth was his favorite pull. Jordan said he couldn’t choose just one thing to love about the sport.
“Everything! The traveling and comradery of being in the rodeo crowd with friends and getting paid for it,” Jordan said.
Jordan also couldn’t pick a favorite bull, either.
“I love all of the bulls, they made me who I am,” Jordan said.
Idleman and Jordan gave advice for anyone wanting to get into Ultimate Bullfighting. He said to be sure to go to camps and classes, practice, workout, and to surround themselves with other fighters in the community.