Thad Jean harbors significant ambitions for his future within the PFL, and his upcoming bout presents his most formidable challenge yet.
Jean is set to clash with former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson in the main event of PFL Nashville on Thursday. This fight serves as a semifinal matchup in the division`s World Tournament, with the winner advancing to the finals to compete for a $500,000 prize and a prime position as a top contender.
Initiating his tournament run as an alternate, “The Silverback” made an immediate splash upon entering the competition, securing a first-round knockout against Mukhamed Berkhamov. Beyond merely continuing his winning ways, Jean is confident that a victory over Jackson will place him on a trajectory to join prominent figures like Dakota Ditcheva and Paul Hughes as key faces of the PFL.
“Without question, we represent the future of this promotion,” Jean stated. “Consider Paul Hughes and Dakota; they originated in the European circuit, specifically England, and their achievements are remarkable. Witness their contributions to PFL Europe. Then, Dakota Ditcheva came stateside and delivered spectacular performances here too. Her success wasn`t confined to Europe; she proved it wasn`t merely boasts by finishing every opponent she faced. That kind of impact is incredible, and I aspire to achieve the same with Thad Jean.”
Jean maintains an undefeated professional record and holds a 5-0 streak within the PFL cage. The 26-year-old commenced his journey with the promotion through the Challenger Series, effectively using that platform to establish himself as one of the organization`s most thrilling emerging talents.
Anticipating the potential outcomes of a victory against Jackson, Jean understands what might follow – though he already considers himself among the world`s elite welterweights even before the fight takes place.
“I believe I am a top-15 fighter globally, and this fight will affirm that,” Jean elaborated. “In fact, my personal conviction is that I`m already a top-5 welterweight. That`s my perspective. The issue is simply that I haven`t had the platform to demonstrate it yet. This fight presents that opportunity. Some people might perceive my confidence as arrogance or dismiss my work ethic, saying, `Oh, this guy is just talking.` But I am consistently undertaking everything necessary, enduring the challenges in training. People just haven`t witnessed it.”
“You have no basis to call me ignorant,” he asserted. “You haven`t seen my effort. Your assumption that I`m arrogant is itself arrogant because you don`t know my journey. Defeating Jason Jackson will undeniably propel me into the top 10. I aim to surpass everyone he has defeated on my way to the number one spot. I refuse to follow; I must lead, which means overcoming every opponent ahead of me, and Jason Jackson is the next obstacle I must conquer. I give him full credit and respect for who he is.”
“Frankly, the significance of facing Jason Jackson is why this is the main event. It`s a veteran, a highly experienced fighter, against the emerging force Thad `The Silverback` Jean. When these two titans collide, the outcome will be Thad emerging victorious. Following this win, Thad will seize control, build upon this momentum, and continue ascending without limit. That is the inevitable progression.”
Facing Jackson presents a formidable challenge. He secured his opening-round victory with a second-round submission of another former Bellator champion, Andrey Koreshkov, in April. Jackson boasts an impressive 9-1 record in his last 10 fights, with his sole recent defeat occurring after losing his Bellator title to Ramazan Kuramagomedov at a Bellator Champions Series event in June 2024.
Jean is fully aware of the difficulty involved but also recognizes the significant reward awaiting him upon victory.
“`Thad Jean will be the face of the PFL promotion; that`s the reality,` Jean declared. `By the close of this year, well before this time next year, I will have established myself as the definitive face of the organization. In fact, I`ll narrow it down: by December of this year, Thad Jean will become the face of the PFL, and I state that with absolute sincerity and conviction.`”
“`People will recognize that Thad Jean possesses that special `it` factor, something compelling to watch. Whether they hope to see that `it` factor prevail or fail, they will be drawn to watch. Both outcomes benefit me, as viewership will be excellent regardless. It`s simple: just tune in and watch.`”
Oliver Croft