Patrice Evra, the legendary Manchester United defender, is set to make a surprising foray into combat sports, preparing for his mixed martial arts debut.
It was recently announced that the football icon will transition to MMA for a fight scheduled at PFL Paris on May 23. While his opponent and specific weight class are still awaiting confirmation, the former Champions League winner is slated to compete at the Accor Arena in just a few weeks.
In preparation for this new challenge, Evra has been training with PFL standout Brendan Loughnane. Loughnane, a former PFL featherweight tournament champion and a seasoned MMA veteran with 36 professional fights, shared his impressions after working with the 43-year-old Evra.
Brendan Loughnane Praises Patrice Evra’s MMA Potential
Loughnane spoke to talkSPORT and expressed significant admiration for Evra`s abilities, stating, “I was incredibly impressed.”
He noted that Evra appears to have some prior background in martial arts, which is evident in his stance and movement. Loughnane specifically highlighted Evra`s renowned left leg, commenting, “When he was letting them kicks off, you could definitely tell there’s some juice behind them.” He added that he is genuinely looking forward to Evra`s upcoming debut.
Loughnane believes Evra possesses the necessary attributes for success in MMA. “He really did have everything in place to really have a good go at this MMA thing,” Loughnane commented. Despite being over 40, Evra has maintained excellent physical condition, which Loughnane attributed partly to his disciplined lifestyle, noting Evra didn`t have his first drink until age 33. Loughnane concluded, “He’s a proper athlete. He knows what he’s doing and I’m really excited for it.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov Offers Training Support to Patrice Evra
Adding further high-profile attention to Evra`s transition, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has offered his guidance. Khabib initially seemed hesitant about Evra fighting, humorously suggesting he would fight for him instead during a phone call. “Brother, you don’t need this why? If you need to fight I’m gonna fight for you,” Khabib reportedly said.
Evra, however, emphasized his commitment to training seriously and his deep respect for Khabib and the sport, expressing his need for a training session with the former UFC champion to learn from the best.
In response, Khabib used his famous phrase, demanding Evra`s location for training. He told Evra, “Brother, when I see you, you have to be ready and that’s it. Other things we can take care of, I’m going to teach you how to smash people.” Khabib reiterated his motive, stating, “I just want you to improve yourself, nothing else.” He concluded by asking Evra to send his location to arrange a training session.
