Patrice Evra is preparing to enter the cage for his first MMA fight on May 23 in Paris under the PFL banner. He already has an opponent in mind — Luis Suárez — with whom he’d like to settle an old score.
Patrice Evra Reveals Why Luis Suárez Is His Opponent of Choice
Evra made headlines after sharing that he wanted to settle an old beef with Suárez in the MMA cage. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, the former Manchester United captain, now 43, was asked who he would like to fight.
His answer was immediate: the ex-Liverpool forward.
“When the PFL asked me who I would like, I said Luis Suárez because I had a beef with him back in the day when I was captain of United and he played for Liverpool,” Evra said.
“He had some racist abuse. I don’t call him a racist, it’s just that they used some racist words, and I want to do this fight… I think the world wants to see that fight.”
"When the PFL asked me who I would like, I said Luis Suárez because I had a beef with him on the back in the day when I was captain of United and he played for Liverpool.
He had some racist abuse. I don't call him a racist, it's just that they used some racist words, and I want… pic.twitter.com/qtsQszxlgI
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 30, 2025
Tension between the two soccer stars dates back to October 2011, when Suárez was accused of racially abusing Evra during a match at Anfield. The incident led to an eight-game suspension for Suárez, followed by further controversy when he refused to shake Evra’s hand before their next meeting in February 2012.
Their rivalry, once played out in front of millions on the pitch, now lingers over a new arena, one defined by punches, not passes.
Patrice Evra’s Surprise Move to MMA Draws Support from Khabib Nurmagomedov
Evra’s transition into MMA has raised eyebrows, but he won’t be stepping in unprepared. The former left-back is scheduled to compete at PFL Europe: Paris, a showcase contest aimed at drawing new eyes to the sport.
One of those backing Evra’s leap into fighting is none other than UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.
According to Evra, he asked Nurmagomedov to help him train, to which the Dagestani legend responded via Instagram: “I will send you the location very soon. Be ready.”
Their interaction didn’t stop there. In a recent Instagram reel shared by the PFL, the two were seen laughing and trading friendly pokes on a video call. At one point, Nurmagomedov joked, “Brother, you don’t need this. Why do you need to train? If you need to fight, I’m gonna fight for you.”
But Evra insisted he wanted to train, prompting Khabib to post again, “Now I know your location. Be ready, champ.”
While Suárez, now with Inter Miami, is unlikely to accept the fight challenge, the storyline has already captured fans’ imaginations. Whether Evra can turn his football toughness into MMA grit remains to be seen, but he’ll enter the cage with support from one of the sport’s all-time greats and years of competitive fire.