Thad Jean has significant ambitions for his future in the PFL, and his next fight represents his most challenging test yet.
Jean is set to face former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson in the main event of PFL Nashville on Thursday. This pivotal matchup is a semifinal bout in the welterweight World Tournament. The victor will advance to the finals, competing for the $500,000 prize and a coveted top contender position.
Known as “The Silverback,” Jean entered the tournament as an alternate but made an immediate and dramatic impact, securing a first-round knockout against Mukhamed Berkhamov when given the opportunity. Jean is determined to maintain this momentum, believing that a victory over Jackson will position him alongside rising stars like Dakota Ditcheva and Paul Hughes as prominent faces of the PFL promotion.
“We undeniably represent the future of this company,” Jean stated. “Consider Paul Hughes and Dakota; they began their journey in the European scene, primarily in England, and they have been nothing short of amazing. Look at their contributions to PFL Europe. Dakota Ditcheva also came over here and delivered a showstopping performance. It wasn’t just talk; she proved herself by finishing every opponent she faced here, which is incredible. My goal is to achieve the same impact as Thad Jean.”
Jean holds an undefeated professional record and is 5-0 within the PFL cage. The 26-year-old launched his PFL career through the promotion’s Challenger Series, leveraging that opportunity to establish himself as one of the company’s most promising and exciting prospects.
Jean recognizes the potential opportunities that could arise from defeating Jackson, though he already firmly believes he is among the world’s elite welterweights even before the fight.
“I know I’m a top 15 fighter globally, and things will unfold as planned because I *am* top 15,” Jean asserted. “Honestly, I believe I belong in the top 5 worldwide. That’s my conviction. The only issue is I haven’t had the chance to prove it yet. This fight is that opportunity. People currently don’t know this, and they might dismiss it as arrogance or think I’m not putting in the effort. But I am doing everything necessary. I constantly face challenges in training; you just haven’t witnessed it.”
“You can’t label me ignorant; you haven’t seen my journey,” he continued. “To even suggest I’m arrogant demonstrates your own arrogance, as you don’t know me. Defeating Jason Jackson will undoubtedly place me in the top 10, right? I’ve overcome opponents he has beaten. So, I’ll take that spot and then defeat whoever else is required to reach No. 1. I won’t be the follower; I must be the leader, defeating everyone ahead of me. Jason Jackson is simply the next formidable opponent I must overcome. I give him full credit and respect.”
“Let’s be realistic,” Jean added. “This fight against Jason Jackson is the main event precisely because he’s a veteran, a highly experienced fighter going against an emerging star, Thad ‘The Silverback’ Jean. When these two forces collide, I will emerge victorious. I will seize this opportunity, build upon it, and continue to ascend without limits, reaching for the absolute top. That is the destiny of this journey.”
Facing Jackson is undoubtedly a significant challenge. Jackson secured his spot in the semifinal with a second-round submission victory over fellow former Bellator champion Andrey Koreshkov in April. Jackson boasts an impressive 9-1 record in his last ten fights, with his only recent defeat occurring after he lost the Bellator title to Ramazan Kuramagomedov at a Bellator Champions Series event in June 2024.
While Jean fully grasps the difficulty of the challenge ahead, he also clearly envisions the significant rewards awaiting him should he succeed.
“Thad Jean is destined to become the face of the PFL, plain and simple,” Jean declared. “By the end of this year, well before this time next year, I will have become the leading figure for this organization. I am completely and unequivocally committed to making Thad Jean the face of the PFL by December of this year.”
“People will recognize that Thad Jean possesses that undeniable ‘it factor’ – something compelling that draws viewers in,” he concluded. “They will either want to watch me win or watch me lose. Both scenarios are beneficial; viewership will be great either way, and that suits me perfectly. Just tune in and watch.”
Percy Harlow