Thad Jean has large plans for his PFL future, and the subsequent step is his hardest check thus 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 prime contender spot.
“The Silverback” started the grand prix-style event as an alternate, however made a direct affect when his providers have 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 monitor 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 doubt,” Jean informed MMA Preventing. “[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 carried out. Look what they’ve carried out for the PFL Europe scene. After which Dakota Ditcheva got here down right here and did a showstopper right here as properly. She didn’t simply do it over there, it wasn’t simply all speak. She got here right here and he or she put these women out… she put a cease to each opponent and that’s superb. And I would like 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 Sequence, and parlayed that into changing 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 among the best welterweights on this planet heading in.
“That I’m prime 15 on this planet — and it’ll go my approach, and that I’m top-15 on this planet,” Jean defined. “I believe I’m prime 5 on this planet. That’s the place my mindset is. I simply haven’t had the chance to indicate it but. That’s the factor, that is my alternative to indicate it. Individuals don’t comprehend it and other people will see it as, ‘Oh, this man is arrogantly speaking. Oh, [he’s not] placing within the work.’ I’m doing all the things that I’ve to do. I’m the one who’s continuously going via the battles inside the coaching grounds. You simply haven’t seen me.
“You may’t say I’m ignorant. You haven’t seen nothing. Your notion to even have the ability to say that I’m boastful is conceitedness trigger you don’t know me. I’ll, this me, beatng Jason Jackson will put me at prime 10, proper? All people 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 must be the top, and I must beat all people 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 respect him.
“Let’s be sincere, 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 prime. After which Thad goes to take that baton, go down these flowers, and proceed to skyrocket this to the ceiling, to the skies the place there is no such thing as a restrict. That’s what it’s going to be.”
It’s no simple check going towards Jackson, who gained his opening spherical struggle 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 Sequence 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 mentioned. “On the finish of this 12 months, earlier than it even involves this time once more subsequent 12 months, I’ll change into 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 change into the face of the PFL, and I imply that utterly and wholeheartedly.
“Individuals will see that Thad Jean, he has the it issue, and other people 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 nice. Views are all the time improbable both approach, it doesn’t matter to me. Simply come watch.”
