What started as a scuffle on a soccer field in a 2011 Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool has entered an MMA cage in 2025. Former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra has seemingly joined Dana White-led UFC’s only rival in the sport- the PFL.
Although his opponent for his debut fight has not been announced, when asked, Evra had a name ready to go. It’s the same name, he would have laid out all those years ago at Kop end in Anfield- Luis Suarez. Suarez was accused of addressing the Red Devils’ captain with a liberal use of the N-word in response to being asked, “Why did you kick me?”
Although Suarez has claimed his innocence, stating his words were lost in translation, it didn’t matter, he was fined £40,000 and banned for eight matches. When the pair faced off against each other again in the return meeting, the Liverpool striker refused to shake Evra’s hand, causing further controversy.
So when the Red Devils beat Liverpool that day, Evra made sure he went and celebrated the win right in front of Suarez’s face. And now, 14 years later, Evra wants to stir the pot once again.
“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 tweeted.
Referring to the former Liverpool striker’s notorious habit of biting his opponents, Evra joked, “He can even bite me.”
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.— Patrice Evra (@Evra) April 25, 2025
However, as enticing as the prospect sounds, it will be next to impossible to get the fight to happen. Evra retired back in July 2019, but Suarez continues to play for David Beckham’s Inter Miami alongside his former FC Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.
But what does that mean for Evra? Well, the former Red Devils’ captain will be making his debut regardless.
Evra reveals PFL debut date
Despite running out of options and fighters to be competitive against a behemoth like the UFC, the PFL seems to be doing everything in its power to bridge the gap.
And the strategy they are using is bringing in well-known celebrities to attract more eyes to their organization. First, it was YouTuber-turned-boxer, Jake Paul, who became a partner and even promised to fight in the PFL cage in the future.
And now, it’s a soccer legend. Mind you. Evra is no novice to combat sports either.
Training since 2016, Evra first tried his luck in boxing. Back in 2022, he was set to face Adam Saleh, but the fight was postponed after the main event of the evening fell through. Disappointed, Evra announced his retirement from pugilism.
: Patrice Evra makes his PFL MMA DEBUT at PFL Paris on Friday 23rd May
⁰The former Manchester United and Les Bleus footballer will enter the SmartCage for the first time inside the Accor Arena in just four weeks time!I LOVE THIS CAGEEEEE! @Evra… pic.twitter.com/TeAiuOlOrt
— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) April 25, 2025
Well, it seems the soccer pundit has found the urge to compete again. The former French national will make his debut for the PFL on their Paris card on 23 May.