Former Manchester United player Patrice Evra is set to make his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) debut in May, as announced by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on Friday. The Frenchman has already suggested that his dream opponent would be none other than old foe Luis Suarez.
Evra, who retired from football in 2019 after captaining the France team and playing for renowned clubs such as Manchester United, Juventus, and AS Monaco, has been training since 2016. His first fight will take place at PFL Europe Paris on May 23 at the Accor Arena.
The identity of his opponent remains undisclosed. However, the 43-year-old former footballer known for his aggressive and tenacious style on the pitch has proposed a novel idea.
Unique challenge
In a social media post announcing his official training with PFL Europe.
Manchester United legend, Patrice Evra, said:
"I'm officially training for my first fight with PFL Europe. They will pick my opponent,"
"They asked who I wanna face. I said: Luis Suarez. I'll pay out of pocket. He can even bite me."
Suarez is a former Uruguayan soccer international currently playing for Inter Miami who has gained notoriety for biting opponents on three separate occasions - one of which involved Italian Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup. While Suarez hasn't shown any inclination towards transitioning into MMA so far, it's worth noting that he and Evra share a contentious history dating back to their time in English Premier League football. In 2011 while playing for Liverpool FC against Manchester United where Evra was then based, Suarez was banned from eight matches following accusations of using racist language against him.
This unique challenge by Evra adds an intriguing twist to what is already an exciting transition from football to MMA. Whether Suarez will accept the challenge remains to be seen, but it's clear that Evra's debut in the MMA world is set to be a highly anticipated event for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike.
