Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has announced he will make his Mixed Martial Arts debut next month with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
The 43-year-old, who famously coined the phrase “I love this game” during his illustrious football career, will step into the SmartCage at PFL Europe Paris on May 23 at the Accor Arena.
“You guys should know by now, I love this game too!” Evra said. “I’ve performed on the world’s biggest stages, won every major trophy in football, but PFL Europe Paris will be an incredibly special night for me.”
The legendary left-back, who made 273 appearances for Manchester United between 2006 and 2014, has apparently been preparing for this moment since 2016. He’s been training alongside his friend and PFL superstar Cedric Doumbe to hone his combat skills.
While his opponent has yet to be announced, Evra has already stirred controversy by suggesting a potential showdown with former football rival Luis Suarez.
“Breaking: I’m officially training for my first fight with @PFLEurope. They will pick my opponent… They asked who I wanna face. I said: Luis Suárez. I’ll pay out of pocket. He can even bite me,” Evra wrote on social media platform X.
PFL CEO Pete Murray expressed excitement about the high-profile addition to their roster: “I’m told he loves this game as much as us, and we’ll find out on 23 May! We’re incredibly excited to have the superstar that is Patrice Evra fight under the PFL banner, as we’re all about exciting match-ups and making history.”
The Paris event will feature several notable bouts, including Mansour Barnaoui (22-6) facing the undefeated Archie Colgan (11-0) in a lightweight contest. Former UFC fighter Taylor Lapilus (21-4) will also make his PFL debut against 2024 PFL MENA bantamweight champion Ali Taleb (12-1).
During his football career, Evra established himself as one of the premier left-backs in the world. At Manchester United, he collected an impressive 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. His career also included spells at Monaco, Juventus, Marseille, and West Ham, alongside 81 appearances for the French national team.
“I’ve been training alongside the best in the world for years, and they’ll also tell you I’m ready for this,” Evra added. “I’m going to put on a show at the Accor Arena on 23 May, so come watch the spectacle.”
The PFL Paris event comes just weeks after another major card in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where rising star Paul Hughes will headline against Bruno Miranda on May 10 at The SSE Arena.
