Logan Storley Questions Thad Jean’s Lack of Experience, Gas Tank Ahead of PFL Final

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As a former Bellator MMA interim welterweight champion and decorated collegiate wrestler, Logan Storley understands what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

Currently riding a three-fight winning streak in the Professional Fighters League, Storley finds himself back in a championship bout, as he will take on rising talent Thad Jean in the 2025 PFL World Tournament 8 welterweight final this Friday at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With the PFL going to a single-elimination tournament format, Storley feels the setup was tailor-made for him, and his performances to this point have proven as much.

“It’s been a good year,” he told Sherdog.com. “I had the quarterfinals in April, semifinals in June and now the championship in August. I’m excited. It’s been a lot of fun this year.”

Taking on a young talent in Jean, Storley faces a challenge he has seen before. While he respects his opponent, he plans to rely on his experience and past success to carry him to his first PFL title.

“He’s a tough competitor—a big, strong kid who hits hard,” Storley said. “He’s good everywhere, but he hasn’t fought someone like me who has put it all together, someone who’s going to put the pace on him for 25 minutes. I don’t think he’s done a five-round fight in his career, and I know that he has not fought someone like me.”

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament Finals LIVE Friday, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+

In order to get to the championship against Storley, Jean had to beat one of the South Dakota native’s Kill Cliff Fight Club teammates: former Bellator champion Jason Jackson. As Jean defeated Jackson in their semifinal matchup, Storley took notice of his future upcoming opponent.

“I think his ability to continue to get up against Jackson was impressive,” Storley said. “He’s a very good counterstriker. He’s a big kid. I watched him last year when he fought in Orlando, I knew last year that this is a guy I might be fighting, and here we are this year in the finals.”

When asked to look ahead to his fight against Storley, Jean acknowledged that he’s likely to be taken down by the four-time NCAA All-American wrestler. However, Storley was quick to point out that there’s much more to his game than basic wrestling.

“He’s a great striker, but what does your striking look like after the scrambles, after getting up, after you have to fend off takedowns?” he said. “That’s what I do differently than everybody else in the world.”

Competing in this year’s world tournament allowed Storley to once again fall in love with MMA. As he continues to get older, he still has goals he would like to achieve before he retires.

“I still have some things I want to do in my career, and I know in order to do it, I had to go back to the basics,” Storley said. “All of a sudden, I realized how special it is to be part of this journey, and you get to do this with some of my best friends. You get to travel around with your best friends and compete at the highest level. That’s pretty special.”

The ultimate goal for Storley is not just achieving victory over Jean but to leave as a champion, to go out and show the world that he belongs at the top of the welterweight mountain.

“For me, it’s another belt and just continuing to prove that I am the best in the world,” he said. “I want to prove that I can beat anyone, not just young guys. I think some of us that have been with Bellator and the PFL want to prove that to everyone. For me, I just want to continue to show that I’m one of the best 170-pound fighters in the world.”