In a highly anticipated PFL World Tournament semi-final bout, Jason Jackson and Thad Jean finally settled their intense rivalry over three hard-fought rounds. The animosity between Jackson and Jean had grown significantly personal in the lead-up, with the former Bellator champion making controversial remarks about his undefeated opponent, including comments about Jean`s family. Despite the heated exchanges, Jackson, a seasoned fighter with notable wins, was widely considered the favorite entering the cage. However, facing a vocal Nashville crowd largely supporting Jean, Jackson encountered a tougher challenge than anticipated. The contest proved incredibly close, with Jean ultimately securing a hard-fought split decision victory.
PFL Nashville Semi-Final Result
From the opening bell, both fighters engaged aggressively. Jean scored an early knockdown but Jackson recovered, utilizing well-timed takedowns to control periods of the fight and slow the pace. While Jackson showcased his veteran strategy, Jean proved a difficult opponent, successfully defending against several takedown attempts and even attempting his own. As the fight entered the third round, with the crowd passionately chanting `Silverback` for Jean, the outcome remained uncertain.
The third round saw a brief pause due to an accidental illegal low blow delivered to Jackson. Fortunately, he was able to continue relatively quickly, and the momentum of the bout wasn`t significantly altered. As neither fighter could secure a finish, the decision rested with the judges. Jean was awarded the win via split decision, with one scorecard controversially favoring him 30-27. With this victory, Thad Jean advances to the PFL World Tournament finals, where he is set to face Logan Storley in August.
Jackson and Jean`s Bitter Rivalry Detailed
The intensity of the rivalry was surprising, as there had been no apparent bad blood when both fighters competed on the same card earlier in the tournament. However, once they were scheduled to face each other, the demeanor of the normally friendly former champion, Jason Jackson, shifted dramatically, and he began verbally engaging his upcoming opponent. The animosity escalated quickly, fueled by Jackson`s pointed remarks, including questioning Jean`s Haitian heritage and accusing him of hypocrisy for expressing support backstage while publicly predicting Jackson`s loss in the previous round against Andrey Koreshkov. Despite the personal attacks, Jean appeared largely unfazed, focusing instead on the significant opportunity of headlining his first PFL event.
Gareth Pendleton