Overview:
PFL welterweight champion Thad Jean obtained a hero’s welcome in Little Haiti throughout his victory tour. Surrounded by followers, household and Haitian tradition, Jean mirrored on his journey, the challenges he has confronted outdoors the cage and his hopes for Haiti’s future.
One week after his victory tour cease in South Florida, Thad Jean remains to be using excessive.
The Haitian American neighborhood in Miami celebrated the Skilled Fighters League welterweight champion at Sounds of Little Haiti on Sept. 19, the place followers welcomed him with cheers, picture ops and flexed muscle mass.
The month-to-month cultural occasion, held each third Friday, featured stay music, Haitian consolation meals from distributors and a multigenerational crowd.
Jean mentioned he was touched by the neighborhood’s help. He has made it his mission to uplift the Haitian neighborhood, utilizing his victories to symbolize Haiti whereas additionally battling inner struggles.
The fighter has confronted struggles outdoors the cage, together with his father’s failing well being, Haiti’s ongoing turmoil and the uncertainty of reserving his subsequent struggle. However his household was by his facet on the celebration, along with his mother and father and sister serving to place the championship belt on his shoulders.
“I need individuals to see the positivity that after we put Christ first, collectively we’re stronger,” Jean informed The Haitian Occasions on the Little Haiti Cultural Heart. “We will type a optimistic gentle.”
Jean introduced collectively avid and informal Combined Martial Arts (MMA) followers like Mathéo (thematheo_), a rising Haitian artist, rapper, and dancer who was a featured visitor acting on stage at Sound of Little Haiti.
“Superb! He’s one of many first PFL Champions representing Haiti” Mathéo informed The Haitian Occasions
Alongside along with his trusted right-hand man Gianni (IG: @paiidgz), a aggressive dancer, one in every of two backup dancers who carried out with Mathéo on stage.
“Whereas I have a look at MMA typically, Thad is an excellent fighter! I’m very proud! He’s an excellent affect!”
Jean mentioned he needs to increase that gentle past religion, constructing monetary stability by buying a house and investing in shares.
On the identical time, he intently follows the disaster in Haiti. “My mother and father needed to come right here to hunt asylum within the 90s,” Jean mentioned. “One optimistic is that I used to be born in America, which put me within the place I’m now. We nonetheless have household in Haiti, nonetheless being affected by every part occurring there. However change will come.”
Jean’s father, sporting a broad smile and a thick mustache paying homage to the Pringles brand, confirmed little signal of sickness as he moved across the venue.
“My dad had his kidney changed final 12 months, so he has one good functioning kidney,” mentioned Jean.“We’re blessed to be alive to have the ability to do issues like this. You recognize, he raised us, him and my mom.”
Jean mentioned he was grateful his father was capable of attend the celebration. He added that his prolonged household in Haiti additionally helps his profession, selling his fights of their communities, regardless of combined martial arts remaining taboo within the nation.
“I actually do wish to go to Haiti, not now, however very quickly,” Jean mentioned. Turning to his mom, he requested which metropolis he ought to go to: Port-de-Paix, Port-au-Prince, or Jean-Rabel. She replied: “Port-de-Paix.”
“I’m excited! I wish to do all of it,take pleasure in all of it, I wish to expertise all of it!” Jean mentioned.
Trying forward, Jean mentioned he’s looking forward to a rematch with Jason Jackson, whom he defeated on June 12 within the PFL welterweight semi-finals.
“I’d love to essentially flip that win into an exclamation mark that I destroyed you and I can destroy you anytime,” Jean mentioned.
Jean mentioned he stays prepared for greater fights, whether or not a championship sequence or a showdown with Cédric “Le Meilleur” Doumbé.
“I’m nonetheless younger, I nonetheless wish to go even greater,” Jean mentioned. “I’ve been saying it and saying it once more. I wish to take over that entire space, that entire spot.”
Jean can be competing within the upcoming MMA Champions Collection, particulars of that are but to be introduced. He mentioned he stays grateful for the chance to shine for his mother and father, neighborhood and Haitian heritage.