DUBLIN, Ga. – Aaron Mercer may have developed his own Mercy Roll as a move in professional bullfighting, but nobody’s on a better roll than Chance Moorman.
Moorman, the 2020 Ultimate Bullfighters world champion from Lytle, Texas, was dominant in his performance over the two days of July 1-2 to win the Emerald City Classic at the Ag & Expo Building inside the Southern Pines Regional Park in Dublin.
He earned another championship on an already terrific season, adding to his lead in the UBF standings with plenty of time left in the regular season.
“I’m just taking it bull by bull,” Moorman said in his post-event interview. “You can only fight one bull at a time, and that’s all you need to focus on.”
Moorman did that and more, winning his first-round bout with an 85-point fight to advance to the semifinals. The other winners on opening night were Tucker Lane of Oak Grove, Missouri, 85.5 points; Colton Orcutt of Kersey, Colorado, 87; Tyler Mansell of Caldwell, Idaho, 85.5; Mercer of Calgary and Wagner Miqueline of Zacarias, Sao Paulo, Brazil, tied for the Round 4 win with 85.5-point fights; and Dekevis Jordan of Madill, Oklahoma, 87.5.
In the semifinals, it was mano-y-mano, as two men faced each other in six fights, with only the top scores moving on to the championship round. Moorman posted the highest marked bout of the semis with an 89.5, besting Mansell by just a half point.
The final go-round was heavyweight bout after heavyweight bout, with six bulls that have all been part of 90 points or better this season alone. That seems to be where Moorman shines. Matched with Chad Ellison Fighting Bulls’ Homewrecker for the third time in his career, Moorman started with a big jump that cleared the bull, which immediately faced the champ.
Moorman then hit Homewrecker with three straight fakes that showcased cape maneuvers, which allow the judges to see just how close the bullfighter was to the animal. With Homewrecker always close, Moorman countered with a few rounds and back-to-back fakes before setting up the animal with a Mercy Roll to sell his 91-point, winning effort.
Mercer and Jordan finished tied for second at 89 points, while Orcutt and Lane were 88.5 to finish in a tie for fourth. UBF rookie Cole Bates of Sky Valley, California, rounded out the scoring with an 87-point fight.
His victory in Dublin marked the third time this season that Moorman has claimed a title in Georgia. He also won in Clayton and Swainsboro this past spring.
“Georgia is my second home,” the Texan said. “I’m sponsored by (Georgia-based) Chad Ellison Fighting Bulls. I spend as much time out here as I can. I absolutely love the crowds out here, and I’m glad y’all love the show.”
This season has been a show for Moorman, who will remain the No. 1 dog in the park for some time to come.
Emerald City Classic results
Dublin, Georgia
Round 1
The top two bullfighters with the highest score in each bout advances to the semifinal round; the others are eliminated
Tucker Lane, 85.5 points
Chase Blythe, 72
Luke Wacey, 78.5
Round 2
Colton Orcutt, 87 points
Jacorey Golden, 84.5
Tyler Stephens, 81
Round 3
Tyler Mansell, 85.5 points
Tyler Washburn, 83
Rico Mathes, 82
Round 4
(tie) Wagner Miqueline and Aaron Mercer, 85.5 points each
Cy Ferguson, 79
Round 5
Dekevis Jordan, 87.5 points
Cole Bates, 86
Bailey Ziehl, 73
Round 6
Chance Moorman, 85 points
Zek Smith, 77
Blake Miller, 76.5
SEMIFINALS
Bullfighter with the highest score in each bout advances to the semifinal round; the others are eliminated
Semifinal 1
Aaron Mercer, 88 points
Wagner Miqueline, 77.5
Semifinal 2
Chance Moorman, 89.5
Tayler Mansell, 89
Semifinal 3
Tucker Lane, 85.5 points
Jacorey Golden, 81
Semifinal 4
Cole Bates, 85 points
Tyler Washburn, 81.5
Semifinal 5
Colton Orcutt, 79.5 points
Chase Blythe, 72.5
Semifinal 6
Dekevis Jordan, 87.5 points
Zek Smith, 85
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Chance Moorman, 91 points
(tie) Aaron Mercer and Dekevis Jordan, 89 each
(tie) Colton Orcutt and Tucker Lane, 88.5 each
Cole Bates, 87