ULTIMATE BULL FIGHTING COMES TO THE SUNSHINE STATE

ARCADIA-BASED MOSAIC ARENA HOSTS 2020 WORLD FINALS

Written by: Kathy Ann Gre

Take a bull riding fan, mix it up with an adrenaline junkie, add a hint of craziness, make sure they are young and agile enough to outrun or outmaneuver a 2,000-pound bovine—and you’ve got yourself a bullfighter!

eir traditional use was for “cowboy protection.” When a bull rider is either bucked o or dismounts a er his 8-second ride, the bullfighter would ensure he was protected from the bull coming back at him, either to hook him or to trample the rider. at means the bullfighter has to be prepared to take a hit, if necessary.

So in order to protect themselves, bullfighters learned tricks, feints and maneuvers to distract the bull from that body on the ground. And from this arose a totally separate sport known as freestyle bullfighting.

ese contestants have 60 seconds in the arena to show o their skills. ere are standard maneuvers that each of them need to include in each outing. en they have the opportunity to add their own personal touch to the routine: ey time it just right so they can jump over the bull, maybe take o an article of clothing and wave it at the animal, or throw their hat at it, and anything else they wish to include. Usually, two to three of their comrades will be on the railings—in case something goes wrong and the contestant needs help. at’s because the bovines in the arena with these competitors are of the Toro de Lido breed, also known as Mexican fighting bulls. While they may look smaller or more compact than the bulls in traditional rodeos, these bovines are bred to attack, to hook, to maim and even to kill. e four performances were spread over three days: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day (two performances) and Saturday, Jan. 2. Anywhere from 12 to 18 contestants were in each outing; the field was dwindled down to the final 12 on Saturday night. e UBF was so impressed by Mathis that he was invited to compete at Saturday’s early performance. He did well enough to qualify for the next one that evening.

Like most sports, even rodeos, the year or season is concluded with a finals event. e 2020 season saw the decade-old Ultimate Bull Fighters World Finals sponsored by the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo, held at Mosaic Arena in DeSoto County’s Arcadia, Florida.

Each performance began with an introduction of the contestants, done di erently each time but always with fireworks and rock music. e entertainer for the weekend was Brinson James the Entertainer (featured in the February/March 2021 issue of Florida Country Magazine), who did a great job keeping the audience involved.

Unlike bullfights from Spain that come to mind when you hear the term “bullfighting,” the animals are not harmed or killed in this new sport. In fact, they are cared for like a member of the family. A er all, they represent the livelihood of the owner.

Famed bull rider J.B. Mauney is a frequent stock contractor and his fighting bulls were in Saturday’s performance. Florida is represented by two athletes in this sport: “veteran” Riley McKettrick of Arcadia, and newcomer Rico Mathis of Bartow. Florida Country Magazine did a story on McKettrick in its June/July 2019 issue.

A er giving up on a football career, 26-year-old Mathis decided to try freestyle bullfighting only a month before the UBF World Finals. At his first attempt in Fort Worth, Texas, he made the mistake of competing when exhausted. He ended up getting badly hooked when his legs buckled just prior to the jump he was attempting.

Mathis’ life history is not a pretty one, having su ered abuse as a child, being abandoned by his family and even losing a close friend to a motorcycle accident. But he welcomes this new opportunity: “Bullfighting is saving me,” he states.

When the dust had settled, it was Justin Josey—famed for the yellow hat he sports—who won the UBF World Finals. And with a remarkable and unbeatable season, Chance Moorman took home the buckle as World Champion. FCM

My Country Heart

Oh, how I want the country to stay country,” states Plant City, Florida, resident ToniDee Colon. She captured this image with her iPhone 8 Plus in that Hillsborough County city. The photographer continues, “Where farmers tip their hat and say, ‘Good morning, ma’am,’ where you hear more moos than traffic and smell homemade biscuits instead of exhaust. I feel that this photo comes from my country heart!”

Always Willing To Pose

This great blue heron is a regular in my neighborhood at Mayberry’s RV Park & Mobile Home Community in Okeechobee, Florida,” Sherri Hardman says. “It is always willing to pose for me. I am new to nature photography—and Okeechobee is full of wildlife of all kinds. This picture was taken from my front yard with a Canon PowerShot. I have 13 grandchildren and we are all learning about nature and wildlife through my pictures.”

A Grand Day

This was at our son’s wedding,” explains Marie Hunt of Old Town, Florida, in Dixie County. “We were waiting on the reception to start and just happened to see our grandson standing by this truck enjoying his drink. This was captured with an iPhone. But I usually always have my camera with me. Photography is a great passion of mine. Photography is a way of capturing memories forever.”

Osprey In Action

This photo’s one of about 50 shots I took as I watched this elegant raptor snatch the fish out of the swift-moving St. Johns River,” says Michelle Holland of Crescent City, Florida, in Putnam County. She was in the Sportsmans Harbor area, along the river in nearby Welaka, and used a Canon PowerShot SX70HS (ISO 200 247 mm f/6.5 1/400 sec). “The excitement I feel whenever I observe and photograph such beautiful wildlife in action is inexplicable. Watching the many osprey diving and ripping their prey apart is breathtaking. As a retiree, there are only two things that my life revolves around—photography and pickleball,” Holland adds.

Way Of Life

Her Nikon D810 came in handy for Alachua, Florida, resident Macy Malphurs. As she notes, “Photography captures a story; my story reflects a lifestyle that’s been passed down through many generations of Florida ranchers. e group of cows pictured in this photo on the family ranch in Alachua have been passed down to me from my grandfather Lamar Malphurs. Fortunately, he was able to teach me the value of hard work and the benefits of raising cattle locally. My goal is to preserve this way of life for generations to come.”

An Amazing Favorite

While visiting Orlando-based Gatorland, Megan Drumheller of Winter Haven, Florida, shot this image with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark ll and Lumix 45 mm-200 mm lens. “American alligators are one of my favorite Florida natives and I love to photograph them—whether it be on the trails or at one of our local theme parks. I hope to show others how amazing these creatures are. Life can get hectic and we often forget to enjoy the journey. Photography helps me slow down, enjoy the beauty our world has to offer and to live in the moment,” says Drumheller.

Very Special Birthday

Naples, Florida, resident Kaley Dikeman employed Renatta Photography, which is also based in that Collier County city, for a very special photography shoot. Dikeman explains, “ is photograph was taken by Renatta Photography with a Nikon D750 for my son’s 1-year-old birthday in Bonita Springs [in nearby Lee County]. My son’s name is Rhett Dikeman. He just turned a year old and loves playing outside.”