Patrice Evra, the former French international and Manchester United defender, is embarking on a new career path. Having retired from professional football, Evra is gearing up for his debut in mixed martial arts (MMA) with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on May 23, 2025. To ensure he is fully prepared for this significant transition, he is seeking guidance from the very best in the sport. Recently, Evra was seen discussing training strategies with none other than Khabib Nurmagomedov, the legendary UFC champion.
During their conversation, Evra conveyed the seriousness of his commitment to training for the upcoming fight and expressed a desire for a training session under Nurmagomedov’s mentorship. After all, who better to learn the ins and outs of MMA from than an undefeated champion like Khabib? To Evra’s excitement, Nurmagomedov was quick to accept the request.
“Send location,” said Nurmagomedov. “Tell me where you are. When I see you, you have to be ready, and that’s it. I’m going to teach you how to smash people.”
“𝙎𝙀𝙉𝘿 𝙈𝙀 𝙇𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉”📍
“𝙄 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝙇 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝘾𝙃 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙏𝙊 𝙎𝙈𝘼𝙎𝙃 𝙋𝙀𝙊𝙋𝙇𝙀”💥Khabib Nurmagomedov checks in with Patrice @Evra ahead of the former French football captain’s PFL MMA Debut on Friday 23rd May 👀
LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN! 🫵… pic.twitter.com/G4xHBOmnvt
— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) April 28, 2025
Having elite training from Khabib is sure to benefit Evra immensely. Following his retirement from football, Evra has focused on nurturing upcoming talent in the sport, with notable pupils like Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov under his wing. However, not everyone in the MMA community agrees with Evra’s choice of mentor. Aaron Pico, a rising UFC fighter, recently expressed differing views, questioning Khabib’s supremacy among Dagestani fighters.
Aaron Pico Questions Khabib’s Status as the Best from Dagestan
Khabib Nurmagomedov is renowned for redefining the fighting landscape in the UFC, maintaining an undefeated record throughout his career and elevating the Dagestani fighting style on the global stage. However, Aaron Pico, upon joining the UFC, claimed that Khabib may not be the best fighter from Dagestan. Pico suggested that there are numerous other wrestlers from the region who outperform Khabib in various aspects.
“Islam and Khabib are great wrestlers. They really are in MMA wrestling. But people don’t realize that where they come from, they’re not at the highest level at all. … They’re, maybe, not even in the top 30 and top 50,” said Pico.
This sentiment illustrates that Khabib Nurmagomedov remains a relevant figure in the MMA world even after his retirement, though debates about his standing continue to arise. As the anticipation builds for Evra’s upcoming debut, it will be intriguing to see how trained under Khabib influences his performance and further shapes his new career.
