Hermes Franca wants to return to the UFC

T-Bone · 03-13-2008, 03:03 PM

With Lessons Learned, Hermes Franca Wants Back in UFC - MMAjunkie.com

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After two difficult losses in California -- one to eventually stripped ex-UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk, and a second, perhaps more stinging, loss to the California State Athletic Commission -- Hermes Franca (18-6) has learned his lessons, and he is ready to return to action in the UFC.

Franca addressed his 12-month suspension for anabolic steroid use, as well as his desire to return to the octagon, while a guest on a special Wednesday episode of The Lights Out Show on the TAGG Radio Network (www.taggradio.com), a partner site of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

"This has never happened to me before, you know, with my team or whatever," Franca said. "It was really bad news."

The CSAC's decision to suspend Franca for a year after he admitted his steroid use -- only to reduce Sean Sherk's suspension to six months based on his high-powered attorney's claim of supplement contamination -- left the commission dealing with considerable controversy. The irony of the situation is not lost on Franca.

"I think we make mistakes when we love somebody or we love something," Franca said. "We make mistakes. So I told what I did, and I really don't care about Sean Sherk. Of course, it makes me feel like, 'Oh man, I should be lying.'"

After the CSAC's decision, Franca considered continuing his fighting career abroad, but he reconsidered after learning that the decision would restrict him from future opportunities in the U.S.

"You get addicted to fight, fight, fight, fight, fight," Franca said. "So when I heard the bad news, I said, 'Oh my goodness, what am I going to do? I can't survive without fighting.' I was kind of lost. I think I lost myself. But I think, 'I'm going to fight in Japan or whatever. Canada, or another country or whatever. I called Mr. Armando Garcia, the athletic commission president. He was really nice, and he said 'Hermes, of course you can fight in another country, but you're going to have a hard time (coming) back. It's kind of like you are stepping over our law.'"

Now, as Franca closes in on the end of his suspension, the one lingering question is why he took steroids in the first place.

"I don't like to say somebody told me," Franca said. "Nobody put a gun to my head. But when I got hurt, I was lost. You're going to fight for the belt, so it's a dream come true. I called (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva, and Joe explains to me and said, 'Hermes, look you've got to fight. You have to fight. Sean Sherk, he got hurt; he's been out for eight months after Kenny Florian. So he has to fight, and you have to fight. I cannot put you guys in next month or two months, so you have to fight. Hermes, if you don't fight, I have to find a different opponent.'

"So I said, 'Oh man I have to do something.' So that's what I did."

While understandable to some, many fans aren't buying the excuse. They specifically point to Karo Parisyan, who was promised a title shot more than two years. After Parisyan suffered an injury, Joe Riggs got the title fight with Matt Hughes instead -- and Parisyan is still waiting for his chance. Yet, he (and dozens of other fighters who lost key fight because of injury) never resorted to steroids.

In reflection, Franca does wish he would have chosen a different path.

"Such a stupid thing," Franca said. "Like now I can see Karo Parisyan. When he got hurt, he took some months off, and now he's back. You can see Roger Huerta. He fought a lot, and he said, 'I don't care. I need a year off.' So, now I learned my lesson."

Franca will be allowed to return to action in July, and though released from his UFC contract, he feels the octagon would be the best venue for his next fight.

"The UFC has no reason to kick me off," Franca said. "I am a star, they love me there, and everyone wants to see me come back in the UFC and fight again. I can say (I have) no bad feelings. You can see a lot of guys that were under suspension, and they came back... I think we learn a lot with our mistakes. It's a big lesson. I learned. I'm human."

earvinarp · 03-13-2008, 03:34 PM

He should be back. They are giving second chances to much less deserving folks.

HaVoK · 03-13-2008, 03:51 PM

Hermes is a really good Lighweight that deserves to be back in the UFC. Wouldn't have minded seeing him in the Dream LW tourney either...

T-Bone · 03-13-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVoK

Hermes is a really good Lighweight that deserves to be back in the UFC. Wouldn't have minded seeing him in the Dream LW tourney either...

Agreed.

HaVoK - love the avatar and sig!!

Bomber · 03-13-2008, 04:15 PM

Sherk is allowed back into the UFC, why should they ban Hermes? Just because he owned up? He'll be back.

HaVoK · 03-13-2008, 04:17 PM

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Originally Posted by T-Bone

Agreed.

HaVoK - love the avatar and sig!!

Thanks, T-Bone

MTKrav911 · 03-13-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earvinarp

He should be back. They are giving second chances to much less deserving folks.

I agree. Hermes should be back.

The guy is a great fighter. A National Hero in Brazil because of his BJJ alone. He's come full circle into a well rounded MMA fighter.

IMO also is the only fighter to give Sherk a run for his money forcing their championship showdown to a decision. Sure, he lost most of the fight, but kept it close enough (as championship contenders do), to keep it going. Franca displayed classic BJJ technique, and IMO is one of maybe only 2 or 3 fighters that COULD beat Sherk if given another opportunity.

I hope The UFC brings him back.

LABJJ · 03-13-2008, 09:07 PM

Might be BJ vs Franca? Who knows, but i would like to see this fight. After BJ beats sherk.

KRONOS · 03-14-2008, 09:08 AM

HaVoK,

I can't help but to say in your sig. Jean-Claude Van Damme looks like he wants plant a big wet one on Fedor by the way he's looking at him.

glockmn · 03-14-2008, 10:36 AM

i would love to him back I just the year off won't cause to many problems for him when he comes back

Crashsti · 03-14-2008, 02:43 PM

I think Hermes, despite the steroid suspension, still deserves to be part of the UFC. Tim Sylvia was allowed to come back and has gone on to great things. Stephan Bonnar also is working his way back into the rankings after failing a drug test. Hermes gave Sherk a tough night and had one of those big knees he threw at Sherk's face landed a bit harder Hermes could have left that night as champion. He's a tough guy and an asset to the division.