Matt rebounded from poor ‘95 NFR showing

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997 | 1:48 a.m.

In 1995, the bulls at the Wrangler Bullfight Finals in Las Vegas gave a lesson in humility to Mike Matt.

Last year, Matt gave the bulls a lesson.

The 24-year-old from Billings, Mont., took the Wrangler Bullfight Finals, held in conjunction with 38th National Finals Rodeo, by storm to win his first world championship. That championship came just one year after failing to earn a penny at the Finals.

"In 1995 I was confident because I'd had such a good year," Matt said, remembering his first trip to the Finals. "It was like going from kindergarten to high school, going from the regular tour to the Finals. I didn't know how to handle the pressure; it all accumulated and I wasn't able to fight bulls like I can, and it showed."

But Matt was determined not to let history repeat itself. He returned to the Finals in 1996 and placed in each of the four rounds of competition. He earned $28,372 in Las Vegas and his first world championship title.

"I had a hard time getting there (to the Finals)," Matt said, who entered the Finals ranked fifth in the world standings.

"I didn't draw good bulls during the regular season, but I made it. Once I got to the Finals, I used my new philosophy, to just have a good time, relax and fight bulls like I can."

And fight bulls he did.

Matt earned his first Finals check when he split first--and second-place money in the opening round with 1991 world champion bullfighter Loyd Ketchum of Miles City, Mont. Both scored 83 points and each earned $7,944.

"That first round, it gave me momentum that I carried through the bullfight," Matt said.

He maintained that momentum throughout the Finals. He continued his drive toward the pay window with a fourth-place finish in the second round to earn another $2,270.

In the third round, Matt left nothing to chance. He scored 88 points, good for the round win and a check worth $9,079. It was after this round that Matt wasn't just interested in earning money.

"After I won the third round, I knew I had a shot at the world," he said. "I knew I had to finish first or second in the last round and have Loyd finish toward the bottom. I had a good bull and I knew if I fought him right, I could probably win."

It was in the fourth round that Matt's determination and true talent was evident. He fought Beutler & Gaylord Rodeo's Wack-O--the 1996 PRCA Fighting Bull of the Year and the NFR's top ranked fighting bull--for 82 points, and the buckle was his.

* Hometown: Billings, Mont..

* Date of Birth: August 11, 1972.

* Height/Weight: 5-10/160.

* 1996 Earnings: $46,018.

* 1996 Finals Earnings: $28,372.

* Year Joined PRCA: 1994.

* Finals Qualifications: 3 (1995-97).