The Professional Fighters League has officially announced its stacked main card for PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals, and all eyes are on Jason "The Ass-Kicking Machine" Jackson, who is set to face undefeated rising star Thad Jean in what promises to be a welterweight war.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, at the historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Tennessee, and serves as the final stop before the 2025 PFL World Tournament Finals. With a “win-and-you’re-in” format, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Jackson (19-5), a former Bellator Welterweight Champion, is riding high after a commanding performance against fellow former champ Andrey Koreshkov at a recent PFL main event. The 34-year-old Jamaican-American imposed his will both standing and on the ground, ultimately securing a rear-naked choke at 4:21 of the second round, capping off a gritty, technical display that reminded fans why he remains one of the division's most dangerous veterans.
Koreshkov, a seasoned striker with a wealth of experience, looked sharp early, but Jackson’s relentless pressure and elite grappling ultimately tilted the momentum. After dragging Koreshkov to the canvas in the second round, Jackson took the back and sunk in the choke with surgical precision, forcing the tap and punching his ticket to the semifinals.
He now turns his attention to Thad Jean (9-0), an undefeated prospect whose speed, athleticism, and striking precision have made him one of the most talked-about newcomers on the PFL roster. This matchup will serve as the main event of the semifinals and is expected to be a clash of styles—Jean’s explosiveness against Jackson’s experience and well-rounded skill set.
Also on the card, 2023 PFL Featherweight Champion Jesus Pinedo (24-6) faces Gabriel Braga (16-2) in the rubber match of their thrilling trilogy, and former Bellator champ Logan Storley (17-3) meets Japan’s Masayuki Kikuiri (11-2-1) in the other welterweight semifinal. Meanwhile, 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion Movlid Khaybulaev (22-0-1) will battle South Korea’s Taekyun Kim (11-1).
With the PFL World Tournament Finals looming, June 12 promises to deliver fireworks—and for Jason Jackson, it’s another step toward cementing his place in PFL history.