Thad Jean dominated the 2025 PFL welterweight grand prix with three victories, maintaining an unbeaten record, and his coach believes he is poised for a successful MMA career.
Thad Jean took the PFL welterweight grand prix by storm in 2025, racking up three wins in just four months. His head coach, Daniel Mendes, sees this as merely the beginning of a promising journey in MMA.
Mendes, alongside MMA veteran Gesias Cavalcante at Fight Sports Deerfield Beach, first crossed paths with Jean after Roman Faraldo handed him his last amateur loss in July 2018. Sixteen months later, Jean claimed victory over another team fighter, Jorge Molina, by decision.
Impressed, Mendes and Cavalcante invited Jean to join their team. They started prepping “The Silverback” for his pro debut amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward four years, and Jean boasts an impeccable 11-0 record, with a 7-0 streak in the PFL.
“He’s the new wave in MMA,” Mendes told MMA Fighting. “From amateur to elite in five years. There’s a target on his back now. This is a career-defining moment.”
Jean began the 170-pound tournament with a first-round KO of Mukhamed Berkhamov in April. He then edged out former Bellator champ Jason Jackson via split decision, and later defeated Logan Storley by unanimous decision in the final.
“We won brilliantly, considering the odds,” Mendes remarked. “People underestimated him due to his inexperience, yet he triumphed over seasoned fighters like Berkhamov, Jackson, and Storley.”
At 27, Jean is poised to become a PFL icon alongside flyweight sensation Dakota Ditcheva. “He’s marketable,” Mendes noted. “He knows how to talk, grab attention, and even trash-talk when needed, as he did with Jason Jackson. He’s already a standout MMA product.”
Mendes, who scouts talent from various camps like Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque, plans for Jean to focus on growth this year. “Our approach is scientific and smart,” Mendes said. “The best plan is rest and prep, aiming for a fight around February or March. He’s still evolving, and we need time to hone his technique.”