Thad Jean, a PFL welterweight who was initially an alternate for the current world tournament, is now only two victories away from claiming a $500,000 prize.
Despite narrowly missing an initial spot in this year`s welterweight tournament featuring eight fighters, Jean received an opportunity when Florim Zendeli, the 2024 PFL Europe champion, withdrew. This allowed Jean to compete against Mukhamed Berkhamov from Russia.
Jean capitalized on his chance in the major tournament, achieving a spectacular knockout that left Berkhamov unconscious. He is now set to face Jason Jackson, a former Bellator champion, in his next fight.
Thad Jean Knocks Out Mukhamed Berkhamov to Advance to PFL Tournament Semifinals
Two years after securing a PFL contract through the Challenger Series in Orlando, Thad Jean finally competed on the main stage in the same city last night. He delivered a powerful knockout within four and a half minutes, electrifying his fans at ringside.
As a Florida native, Jean clearly had strong home support at Universal Studios. He pleased his fans with a flawless combination, culminating in a fierce left hook that knocked out his opponent and propelled him to the next tournament stage.
“He has more experience, but I don’t care about how many fights you’ve had in this cage,” Jean told Dan Hardy afterwards. “I don’t care who you are, what your name is, or your record. It doesn`t matter if you`re the main event or the opening fight.
“When you step into the cage with ‘The Silverback’ Thad Jean, I am going to win, I’m going to knock you out, I’m going to do what’s necessary… There are no limits, absolutely no limits, and all glory goes to Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. I told my coach I would make it spectacular, and was it spectacular?”
Jason Jackson to Face Thad Jean After Second-Round Finish
On the other side of Jean’s bracket, Jason Jackson debuted in the PFL tournament against Andrey Koreshkov, another former Bellator champion. After a challenging first round, Jackson secured a rare submission in the second round.
Jackson and Jean confronted each other in the Smart Cage post-fight, where Jackson stated: “He thinks he’s a silverback, but listen, I’m a killer, remember that, you all better know that.”
Tensions were high between them during the face-off in front of the enthusiastic Orlando crowd. Jackson even seemed annoyed by something said, pushing his rival after a verbal exchange.
