Chris Brown Out to Prove He Belongs in the PFL

Based at the world-famous Jackson-Wink MMA academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chris Brown has been in front of the Professional Fighters League audience before. Now, he wants to to prove he belongs. Twice before, once in 2022 and again in 2023, Brown was part of a PFL event. One of the bouts was canceled. The other resulted in a controversial split decision loss to Carlos Leal Miranda on the PFL Challenger Series.

Hoping to make his third time the charm, Brown will meet the undefeated Thad Jean as part of the PFL 8 undercard this Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. It marks the third straight undefeated opponent for Brown, who has captured the Legacy Fighting Alliance welterweight title since his last scheduled appearance with the PFL. He believes he has improved his skills, as well as his mental preparation and understanding.

“Better skills, better condition, more tricks up my sleeve,” he told Sherdog.com. “I’ve been spending this whole time [training]. It’s been a year and a half since I fought last. I’ve been on it. I’ve been grinding, just making myself better, learning new stuff, adding stuff to my arsenal.”

Brown plans to make a statement in this showcase opportunity with the PFL and secure an opportunity to be part of the promotion’s plans moving forward. He has his sights sets on joining the welterweight field during the 2025 regular season, becoming a world champion and earning a $1 million grand prize.

“They wanted me back because they already know the type of athlete I am after that show I put on last time,” Brown said. “Everybody there thought I won that fight. That just made me focus more [and] not want to have that [split decision] ever be an issue again, my conditioning never be an issue again, not having a hard weight cut anymore. This is the easiest weight cut I’ve had so far. I’m maintaining my body better and making sure I’m ready to go non-stop.”

The aforementioned Jean stands in his way. Brown believes there to be a stark difference in the level of competition between the two. While previous opponents may not have engaged with Jean, Brown expects to take a much different approach.

“He seems like a nice kid, but at the end of the day, he’s been fighting nowhere near what I’ve been fighting,” Brown said. “I think the last person he fought was 10-4, but not all the 10-4s are the same. The guys he’s fighting barely want to fight back with him, and you know that’s not going to be an issue with me.”

Back on the PFL stage once again, Brown plans to remind the organization what he’s all about.

“Just pay attention,” he said. “The stuff that I do, nobody else is doing. It’s been like this for a while. I train all over the country. Here at Jackson-Wink, they’ve implemented a lot of the things I do into our curriculum that they teach to everybody in our classes. Pay attention, because people don’t throw kicks or punches the way that I put them together.”