Thad Jean got hurt, dropped to the canvas by an underdog who smelled an upset. He got even anyway.

The undefeated welterweight stormed back in the third round to stop Ernesto “Starboy” Rodriguez and claim the PFL Welterweight Championship in the nation’s capital.

Jean Digs Deep to Claim Welterweight Gold

“The Silverback” (12-0) entered the main event as the favorite, but Rodriguez (11-2) had other plans. The Cuban turned the fight into a brawl, closing the distance and throwing heavy shots that put Jean on the canvas and had the CareFirst Arena crowd on its feet, sensing an upset in the making.

Jean weathered the storm. In the third round, he found his range and flattened Rodriguez with his own power, unloading strikes until the referee stepped in at 2:44 to stop the fight. The TKO win capped a back-and-forth battle and crowned Jean as PFL’s new welterweight champion.

Xavier, Magomedov and Kubanza Headline Stacked DC Card

The co-main event brought its own violence as Brazil’s Rafael “Kratos” Xavier (15-9) finished Tyson Pedro (10-7) with a series of head kicks before following him to the ground with elbows that ended the fight in the final seconds of round one. The performance should push Xavier up the light heavyweight rankings when they’re updated next week.

Elsewhere on the main card, Rasul Magomedov (10-0) outlasted Sullivan “Sully” Cauley (8-3) in a three-round war that fans are already calling a fight-of-the-year contender, edging the American on the scorecards after both men hit the canvas. Eliezer “King Kong” Kubanza (9-1) opened the main card in style, locking in a D’Arce choke to submit Chris Mixan (7-3) in round two after overwhelming him with heavy strikes from the opening bell.

Full PFL Washington D.C. Main Card Results:

• PFL Welterweight World Title: Thad Jean def. Ernesto Rodriguez by TKO (punches), 2:44, Round 3
• Light Heavyweight Co-Main: Rafael Xavier def. Tyson Pedro via TKO (elbows), 4:59, Round 1
• Light Heavyweight: Rasul Magomedov def. Sullivan Cauley via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
• Welterweight: Eliezer Kubanza def. Chris Mixan via submission (D’Arce choke), 2:34, Round 2

Preliminary Card Results:

• Catchweight (140 lbs): Bryce Meredith def. Michael Cyr via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
• Catchweight (140 lbs): Nkosi Ndebele def. Brandon Davis via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
• Light Heavyweight: Coby Bradford def. Chad Yard via submission (rear-naked choke), 1:57, Round 2
• Featherweight: Noah Hermosillo def. Jacob Pais via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Upcoming PFL Schedule:

• Friday, July 31 — PFL New York presented by Arkham, UBS Arena, Belmont Park, Long Island, New York
• Friday, August 7 — PFL Charlotte, Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Saturday, August 22 — PFL Tampa presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, Tampa, Florida