Thad Jean is the new PFL welterweight champion but he had anything but an easy night at the office after late-notice replacement opponent Ernesto Rodriguez gave him everything he could handle in the PFL D.C. main event on Saturday.
After Shamil Musaev dropped off the card due to weight-cutting issues, Rodriguez accepted the title fight on 48-hours’ notice after he was originally scheduled to compete on the undercard. To his credit, Rodriguez put on a stunning performance and nearly put Jean away in the second round.
But Jean kept finding ways to battle back and he eventually got Rodriguez flattened out on the canvas where he started unloading punches and elbows and the referee was forced to rescue he unlikely title contender to end the fight. The stoppage came at 2:44 in the third round as Jean was crowned the new PFL welterweight champion.
“I knew I would be hearing [my name called as champion] but I do have to say all glory to god,” Jean said after the win. “What an opponent. He really brought it to me. He came through like a dog. I knew this day would come. I knew it would come today. I knew he was wearing down. I knew I just had to keep going. I knew I was going to take it from him.
“I’m the champion now. Whoever wants it. Shamil [Musaev] if he gets healthy again to really cement myself as the champion.”
Quick out of the corner, Jean immediately stabbed at Rodriguez with a jab that took him off his feet for a moment. Jean was also throwing a variety of kicks including several to the calf and then going back up the hammer the body.
A big exchange saw Jean unload a huge left hand that seemingly wobbled Rodriguez as the the welterweights were winging punches at each other. From there, Jean got in deep on the clinch and he blasted Rodriguez with a knee up the middle that had the Cuban born fighter wobbled badly.
Jean ended up taking the fight to the ground where he first look for a guillotine choke and then looked to take the back while searching for the rear-naked choke. Jean got a little too high on the back and Rodriguez was able to scramble free as he almost ended up with a full reversal of his own.
Rodriguez opened round two with a thudding right hand of his own that definitely got Jean’s attention. As he continued pursuing his striking attacks, Rodriguez cracked Jean with a shot that dropped him to the canvas.
Rodriguez ultimately took the back and started threatening with submissions with Jean playing defense until he finally got free and nearly locked up an arm-triangle choke of his own just before the bell sounded.
Both fighters looked exhausted heading into round three but that didn’t stop Rodriguez from throwing caution to the wind and just throwing bombs. Jean countered and eventually got on his back again, peppering away with punches and eventually moving ino the mount.
Jean continued punching from the top while also throwing some short, nasty elbows. The continued assault forced the referee to rescue Rodriguez before further harm was done.
Already a rising star on the PFL roster, Jean now has the hardware to back up his claim as the best welterweight in the promotion and he’ll look to build on that reputation now that he’s champion. As for Rodriguez, he may have lost the fight but he put up an incredible effort and he looks like the kind of contender who will build back better and potentially gun for a rematch with Jean down the road.
Here are the full results from the PFL D.C. card:
Thad Jean def. Ernesto Rodriguez via TKO (strikes), 2:44, R3
Rafael Xavier def. Tyson Pedro via TKO (strikes), 4:59, R1
Rasul Magomedov def. Sullivan Cauley via unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards)
Eliezer Kubanza def. Chris Mixan via submission (D’arce choke) 2:34, R2
Bryce Meredith def. Michael Cyr via unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards)
Nkosi Ndebele def. Brandon Davis via unanimous decision (30-26 on all cards)
Coby Bradford def. Chad Yard via submission (rear-naked choke), 1:57, R2
Noah Hermosillo def. Jacob Pais via unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards)
