Thad Jean was not expecting the call, but he was prepared for it when Professional Fighters League officials brought him into the PFL 2025 World Tournament in April. First listed as an alternate in the welterweight draw, Jean stepped in and never looked back, winning the competition at 170 pounds and establishing himself as one of the company’s bright young stars.
With a fan club known as “The Silverback Nation” behind him, Jean recorded a first-round knockout against Mukhamed Berkhamov, took split scorecards from ex-Bellator MMA champion Jason Jackson and laid claim to a unanimous decision over former interim Bellator titleholder Logan Storley.