Thad Jean is the 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament winner – and he might be soon one of the promotion’s biggest stars.
Over the course of five rounds, Jean (11-0) largely had his way with former Bellator interim champion Logan Storley (18-3) en route to a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) victory. The bout headlined Saturday’s 2025 PFL World Tournament 8 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
The opening round was all Jean, as he showed off not only striking prowess and poise but some grappling skills as well. Despite Storley’s wrestling notoriety, Jean mounted him in the opening 90 seconds. Storley worked his way up and out of danger – at least, momentarily.
Jean pummeled Storley in Round 2 after a front kick to the face. With referee Gary Copeland practically breathing on the fighters, the fight was close to being stopped. But Storley hung tough and did just enough to evade.
While Storley’s cardio maintained, he was unable to generate offense like Jean. Jean utilized both technique and flashiness to pick apart Storley for the remainder of the fight.
With the victory, Jean earns $500,000 and is named the 2025 welterweight tournament winner.
Jean, 27, is one of the promotion’s top homegrown talents to date. He came through the PFL Challenger Series at 4-0. He competed on PFL undercards until 8-0, when he was a late replacement to the 2025 tournament bracket. He defeated Mukhamed Berkhamov and Jason Jackson in the first two rounds of the tournament to set up the Storley fight in the final.
Storley, 32, was imported into PFL after the promotion’s merger with Bellator. He went 1-1 in the 2024 season format but didn’t qualify for the playoffs. In 2025, he defeated Joseph Luciano and Masayuki Kikuiri en route to the fight vs. Jean.
The full 2025 PFL 8 results include:
- Thad Jean def. Logan Storley via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
- Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jesus Pinedo via submission (arm triangle) – Round 5, 1:17 – for featherweight tournament championship
- Asael Adjoudj def. Yves Landu via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jordan Newman def. Eslam Abdul Baset via TKO (retirement) – Round 1, 5:00
- Jakub Kaszuba def. Sergio Cossio via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Kyle Driscoll def. Husein Kadimagomaev via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
- Fred Dupras def. Nathan Kelly via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:38
- Sarek Shields def. Nick Meck via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00
- Tom Pagliarulo def. Matt Turnbull via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 4:36
