Manchester United icon Patrice Evra has signed up to compete in mixed martial arts (MMA) under the PFL banner, with his debut scheduled for next month.
During his illustrious football career, the former left-back secured numerous major trophies, including a Champions League title, five Premier League titles, and two Serie A titles. Since 2016, he has been training for combat sports and is now transitioning from boxing to MMA.
Evra is preparing for his cage debut, which will take place on Friday, May 23, in Paris, by training alongside PFL star Cedric Doumbe. As a former captain of the French national team who played in a World Cup, his debut is expected to attract a large audience.
Patrice Evra`s PFL Debut Less Than a Month Away
Confirmation has been received that former soccer star Patrice Evra will step into the SmartCage for the first time at the PFL event on May 23 at the Accor Arena in Paris. This will be the promotion`s second European tournament event of the season.
While his opponent and specific weight class are yet to be officially announced, the fight is confirmed to be part of the PFL Europe card in Paris.
In a statement, Evra commented, “You guys should know by now, I love this game too. 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.”
He added, “I’ve been training alongside the best in the world for years, and they’ll also tell you I’m ready for this. I’m going to put on a show at the Accor Arena on 23 May, so come watch the spectacle.”
PFL CEO Peter Murray also commented, stating, “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.”
Murray concluded, “I can’t tell you how excited Patrice has been putting this together, but I think you’re going to see it at the Accor Arena. Paris, we’re coming to put on another historic evening of MMA, don’t miss out.”
Patrice Evra Had Prior Plans for a Celebrity Boxing Match
In 2022, Evra was slated to make his boxing debut on the undercard of a fight in London. However, the event was cancelled, leading to the cancellation of his planned bout against YouTuber Adam Saleh.
Since that time, figures like Jake Paul and KSI have significantly increased the popularity of influencer boxing. Evra is familiar with KSI, having recently appeared on a reality show with his group, the Sidemen.
Evra has been training in boxing since 2016, even while playing professional football. He retired from football after a brief period at West Ham in 2018 and, at 43, is still relatively young for a combat sports transition.
