Former Manchester United and France national team defender Patrice Evra is set to embark on a surprising new athletic journey at age 43, signing a contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to begin his mixed martial arts career.
The ex-football star, who hung up his boots professionally in 2018, will make his fighting debut on May 23 at the prestigious Accor Arena in Paris. This hometown debut represents a dramatic career pivot for the veteran athlete who enjoyed successful spells with both Manchester United and Juventus during his football days.
PFL officially announced the news via social media, billing the event as a transition "From the Pitch to the SmartCage" for the former Les Bleus defender. The promotion confirmed the May date while noting that Evra's opponent will be revealed at a later time.
According to Statbet analysis, this type of high-profile crossover from football to combat sports remains extremely rare among former top-tier European footballers, making Evra's transition particularly notable in sports history.
The event will be broadcast live on DAZN, giving fans worldwide the opportunity to witness this unique sporting transformation for the former football defender who spent over a decade at the highest levels of European football before retiring seven years ago.
