Thad Jean has huge plans for his PFL future, and the subsequent step is his hardest take a look at so far.
Jean faces former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson in the principle occasion of PFL Nashville on Thursday. The bout serves as a semifinal matchup within the division’s World Match, with the winner advancing to the finals for a shot at $500,000 and a high contender spot.
“The Silverback” started the grand prix-style match as an alternate, however made a right away affect when his companies had been known as upon, knocking out Mukhamed Berkhamov within the first spherical. Not solely does he plan to maintain the practice going, Jean believes a win over Jackson places him on a observe to hitch the likes of Dakota Ditcheva and Paul Hughes as faces of the PFL.
“We’re the way forward for our firm, man, little question,” Jean advised MMA Combating. “[Me] and Paul Hughes and Dakota, they began the place? Within the European scene, proper? Over there in England, and they’re superb. Look what they’ve completed. Look what they’ve completed for the PFL Europe scene. After which Dakota Ditcheva got here down right here and did a showstopper right here as nicely. She didn’t simply do it over there, it wasn’t simply all discuss. She got here right here and she or he put these ladies out… she put a cease to each opponent and that’s superb. And I need it to be the identical factor with Thad Jean.”
Jean is undefeated as a professional, and 5-0 within the PFL cage. The 26-year-old started his PFL run as a part of the promotion’s Challenger Collection, and parlayed that into turning into one of the thrilling prospects within the firm.
With a win over Jackson, Jean understands what could possibly be awaiting him within the aftermath — though he already believes he’s the most effective welterweights on the earth heading in.
“That I’m high 15 on the earth — and it’ll go my manner, and that I’m top-15 on the earth,” Jean defined. “I feel I’m high 5 on the earth. That’s the place my mindset is. I simply haven’t had the chance to point out it but. That’s the factor, that is my alternative to point out it. Folks don’t realize it and folks will see it as, ‘Oh, this man is arrogantly speaking. Oh, [he’s not] placing within the work.’ I’m doing every little thing that I’ve to do. I’m the one who’s continuously going by means of the battles throughout the coaching grounds. You simply haven’t seen me.
“You’ll be able to’t say I’m ignorant. You haven’t seen nothing. Your notion to even be capable to say that I’m smug is vanity trigger you don’t know me. I’ll, this me, beatng Jason Jackson will put me at high 10, proper? Everyone he beat I beat. So I’m going to take that, after which whoever else I’ve to beat to be No. 1, that’s the place I’m gonna be. Can’t be the tail, I should be the pinnacle, and I have to beat everyone in entrance of me and Jason Jackson is one other man in entrance of me that I’ve to beat. All credit score to him, and I recognize him.
“Let’s be trustworthy, as a result of it’s towards Jason Jackson, that is the principle occasion. Jason Jackson, a veteran, a seasoned veteran towards the up-and-coming star Thad ‘The Silverback’ Jean. What’s going to occur as these two titans conflict? Thad is popping out on high. After which Thad goes to take that baton, cross down these flowers, and proceed to skyrocket this to the ceiling, to the skies the place there isn’t a restrict. That’s what it’s going to be.”
It’s no simple take a look at going towards Jackson, who received his opening spherical battle however with a second-round submission over fellow former Bellator champ Andrey Koreshkov in April. Jackson is 9-1 over his previous 10 bouts, with the lone loss coming after he dropped the Bellator title to Ramazan Kuramagomedov at a Bellator Champions Collection occasion in June 2024.
Jean understands the duty at hand, but additionally sees the pot of gold on the finish of the rainbow.
“Thad Jean is the face of the PFL firm and that’s going to be what it’s,” Jean stated. “On the finish of this 12 months, earlier than it even involves this time once more subsequent 12 months, I’ll turn out to be the face of this firm. I wouldn’t even say [this time] subsequent 12 months: I’m going to say December of this 12 months, Thad Jean will turn out to be the face of the PFL, and I imply that utterly and wholeheartedly.
“Folks will see that Thad Jean, he has the it issue, and folks wish to watch that it issue. Both they’ll wish to watch that it issue lose or they wish to watch me win. Each methods is sweet. Views are at all times implausible both manner, it doesn’t matter to me. Simply come watch.”
