Thad Jean’s Striking Edged Jackson to Secure a PFL Final
Thad Jean defeated Jason Jackson by split decision at the PFL World Tournament semifinals in Nashville on June 12, 2025. The welterweight main event at Nashville Municipal Auditorium ended with scores of 30–27, 29–28 and 28–29, sending Jean into the final.
An early knockdown established Jean’s threat
Jean hurt and dropped Jackson during the opening round, immediately demonstrating the danger of his striking. Jackson recovered and used takedowns to prevent the contest from becoming an uninterrupted standing exchange.
The following rounds remained closely contested. Jackson found opportunities to work from grappling positions, while Jean continued landing effective strikes and answering attempts to control him against the fence.
The divided verdict preserved an unbeaten record
Two judges favored Jean, while the third awarded Jackson the fight. The split decision moved Jean to ten professional victories without defeat and ended Jackson’s tournament campaign.
The result carried more than the value of a regular-season win. It completed the semifinal stage and guaranteed Jean another appearance with the tournament championship at stake.
Storley became the next championship obstacle
Logan Storley also won in Nashville, defeating Masayuki Kikuiri by unanimous decision. That outcome created a welterweight final between Jean and the former Bellator interim champion.
Jackson had previously held Bellator’s full welterweight title after defeating Yaroslav Amosov. Overcoming that experienced opponent represented a substantial step for Jean, who had earned a PFL opportunity through the Challenger Series before progressing into the tournament’s final round.
Sources
- PFL: knockdown, grappling exchanges, actual scores and career background
- PFL: Nashville date, venue, Jean’s record and final pairing
