Hermes França

Hermes França Barros (; born August 26, 1974) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He has competed for the UFC, WEC, MFC, and Israel FC. He is a former WEC Lightweight Champion, and former UFC Lightweight Championship contender.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career França made his professional Mixed Martial Arts debut on 17 November 2001, with a win over future WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown. He quickly earned an undefeated streak of 6–0, finishing all his opponents under the limit of the second round, drawing the attention of the UFC.

First UFC run França made his UFC debut at UFC 42, defeating Richard Crunkilton by unanimous decision. He won his next UFC fight against Caol Uno (who narrowly missed the lightweight championship after drawing with B.J. Penn) at UFC 44 before losing a majority decision to Josh Thomson at UFC 46.

His next outing in the UFC, against Yves Edwards, was unsuccessful, losing the fight by split decision. Edwards would once again beat França by split decision in their encounter at Euphoria: USA vs. World in 2005, starting what would be a very bad year – marked with three straight losses – for the Brazilian fighter.

After UFC release However, 2006 would prove to be a much better year for França. In March, he toppled WEC champion Gabe Ruediger to capture the WEC Lightweight championship and then knocked out Team Quest fighter Ryan Schultz to take the AFC Lightweight championship in April.

França continued his winning streak against the likes of Toby Imada and Brandon Olsen before signing a contract to fight Roger Huerta at UFC 61 in July. Although França's opponent was changed – Huerta pulled out due to injury, with UFC newcomer Joe Jordan taking his place – França still reigned successful in his UFC return, stopping Jordan by triangle choke submission in the third round.

Second UFC run On August 4, 2006, it was revealed that França had accepted a late-notice fight with Jamie Varner at UFC 62. França came in as a late replacement for Spencer Fisher, who injured his back while preparing for the fight. Despite accepting the fight on short notice, França reigned victorious, catching Varner in an armbar submission in the third round.

França successfully defended his WEC Lightweight championship against Nathan Diaz, brother of UFC veteran Nick Diaz, at WEC 24 on October 12, extending França's win streak in 2006 to seven consecutive victories.

França won his fight against Spencer Fisher at UFC Fight Night 8 by TKO in the second round; after his victory he got down on his knees (à la Georges St-Pierre) and begged UFC President Dana White to grant him a title shot against Sean Sherk. During the post-fight press conference White confirmed that França would be given a title shot at UFC 73. França lost to Sean Sherk by unanimous decision. On July 19, 2007, the California State Athletic Commission announced França had tested positive for the banned steroid Drostanolone in a post-fight drug test following his championship fight at UFC 73. He had been suspended from competing in California until July 5, 2008, and had been fined $2,500.

He has since left The Armory and was then removed from their main site as an instructor.

Franca spent early January 2008 helping BJ Penn train for his five-round fight against Joe Stevenson for the vacant UFC lightweight championship at UFC 80.

França lost his first fight in the UFC since his suspension in 2007 on July 19, 2008, to Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision.

He then defeated Marcus Aurélio via unanimous decision at UFC 90 on October 25, 2008.

França was scheduled to fight Joe Lauzon on February 7 in the main event for UFC Fight Night 17. However, França pulled out of the event with a torn anterior crucial ligament in his right knee. França made his return against Tyson Griffin on September 19, 2009, at UFC 103. Franca lost his fight to Tyson Griffin in the second round via TKO (Punches) after Griffin caught him with a straight right followed up by brutal ground and pound, eventually knocking out França for his second ever KO loss.

After his defeat at the hands of Tyson Griffin at UFC 103, França was released by the organization, along with other UFC veterans, Chris Wilson, Marcus Aurélio and Justin McCully.

After second UFC release Following the loss to Eric Wisely and losing four out of his last five fights, Franca announced through his manager, Reed Wallace, his retirement.

Franca has since come out of retirement and has bounced back after an 0-3-1 record in four fights during 2010. Franca won via submission in February 2011 then scored two wins in April 2011 defeating Robert Washington and Josh Thorpe.

Xtreme Vale Todo 5 controversy At the Xtreme Vale Todo 5 event in Costa Rica on December 19, 2010, Hermes Franca was awarded a judges' decision over Ferrid Kheder before the promoter, Lu Dwyer, attempted to overturn it, causing widespread controversy. In addition to the fight's announcer, all three judges and the referee had scored the bout in favor of Franca. Regardless of the actual scores, Lu Dwyer declared Kheder the victor, and another promoter raised Kheder's hand in victory after the referee refused to do so.

There is a potential conflict of interest because Kheder is primarily sponsored by Dwyer and her business J & L Irrigation. Dwyer sponsors "Team FK" by paying his living expenses and taking a percentage of his winnings.

Days after his controversial decision win, Ferrid Kheder posted on his Facebook page that Dwyer decided to overturn the fight result to a "No Contest" and suggested a five-round rematch, presumably in the same promotion.

Return to MMA Following his arrest and deportation to Brazil, Franca returned from a three-year retirement and faced Marcio Breno at Extreme Fighter: Nordeste on August 28, 2014. He lost the bout via first-round knockout.

Personal life Franca and his wife have one son. Franca lost his father when he was 14.

Franca was scheduled to fight Drew Fickett for the MFC's vacant lightweight championship at MFC 30 on June 10, 2011. Franca, however, turned himself in to Clackamas County Sheriff's officials in mid-May 2011 and was charged with multiple sexual battery charges. This was related to him sexually abusing a minor who was a student at his training facility in Clackamas, Oregon. MFC president Mark Pavelich then terminated Franca's contract on May 19, 2011, citing the arrest and Franca having fought two times outside of the organization, breaching his contract.

Franca pleaded guilty to one count of attempted unlawful penetration and was sentenced to 42 months in state prison; he was also sentenced to four and a half years probation after serving his prison sentence and had to register as a sex offender.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts World Extreme Cagefighting WEC Lightweight Champion (One time; third) Two successful title defenses Tied (Jamie Varner; Gabe Ruediger) for most consecutive successful defenses in the Lightweight division Tied (Jamie Varner; Gabe Ruediger) for most successful defenses in the Lightweight division Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Three times) Submission of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2006: Ranked #6 Submission of the Year HOOKnSHOOT HnS Featherweight Champion (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Vaso Bakočević TKO (punches) Megdan Fighting 4 - Selected

Novi Sad, Serbia Loss

Rafael da Silva Cordeiro TKO (punches) TSFBR 1 - Super Fight Brazil

Teresina, Piauí, Brazil Win

Roger Vieira Submission (guillotine choke) TWC 5 - The Warriors Combat 5

Brasília, Brazil Loss

Lionel Padilla Suarez Decision (unanimous) AFL 14 - Outbreak

Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain Win

Fozil Nuralizoda TKO (doctor stoppage) TFC 5 - Tajikistan Fighting Championship 5

Dushanbe, Tajikistan Win

Eduardo Andrade Decision (unanimous) Aspera Fighting Championship 53

Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil Loss

Zhang Lipeng Decision (unanimous) Kunlun Fight MMA 9

Sanya, Hainan China Loss

Fanil Rafikov KO (punches) Akhmat Fight Show 12

Astana, Kazakhstan Loss

James Silveira TKO (punches) Action Fight 2

Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil Win

Khasan Askhabov Submission (guillotine choke) Battle in Grozny 5

Grozny, Chechnya, Russia Loss

Shamil Zavurov KO (punch) Grozny Fights 3

Grozny, Chechnya, Russia Loss

Márcio Breno KO (punches) Extreme Fighter: Nordeste

Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil Loss

Thawa Ril KO (punches) International Fighter Championship

Pernambuco, Brazil Win

Josh Thorpe Submission (rear-naked choke) Gladiator Cage Fights - Knockout Night 1

Marion, Illinois, United States Win

Robert Washington TKO (punches) MFC 29: Conquer

Windsor, Ontario, Canada Win

Jorge Sarat Submission (armbar) GForce Promotions: Bad Blood 5

Grand Rapids, MI, United States NC

Ferrid Kheder NC (overturned) Xtreme Vale Todo 5

Cartago, Costa Rica Loss

Moshe Kaitz Decision (unanimous) Israel FC: Genesis

Tel Aviv, Israel Loss

Eric Wisely Decision (unanimous) Scorpius Fighting Championships 1

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Loss

Eric Wisely TKO (punches) Max Fights DM Ballroom Brawl IV

West Des Moines, Iowa, United States Loss

Tyson Griffin KO (punches) UFC 103

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Marcus Aurélio Decision (unanimous) UFC 90

Rosemont, Illinois, United States Loss

Frankie Edgar Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Irvin

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Sean Sherk Decision (unanimous) UFC 73

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Spencer Fisher TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night 8

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Nate Diaz Submission (armbar) WEC 24: Full Force

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Jamie Varner Submission (armbar) UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joe Jordan Submission (triangle choke) UFC 61: Bitter Rivals

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brandon Olsen Submission (armbar) WEC 21: Tapout

Highland, California, United States Win

Toby Imada Submission (armbar) TC 14: Throwdown

Del Mar, California, United States Win

Ryan Schultz KO (punches) AFC 16: Absolute Fighting Championships 16

Fort Lauderdale, United States Win

Gabe Ruediger KO (punches) WEC 19: Undisputed

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Kotetsu Boku Decision (majority) Hero's 3

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ray Cooper KO (punches) Shooto Hawaii: Unleashed

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Loss

Yves Edwards Decision (split) Euphoria: USA vs World

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Manny Reyes Jr. KO (punches) AFC 10: Absolute Fighting Championships 10

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Win

Phil Johns Submission (rear-naked choke) Euphoria: Road to the Titles

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Yves Edwards Decision (split) UFC 47

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Josh Thomson Decision (unanimous) UFC 46

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Caol Uno KO (punch) UFC 44

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Richard Crunkilton Decision (unanimous) UFC 42

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Ryan Diaz Submission (guillotine choke) HOOKnSHOOT: Absolute Fighting Championships

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Win

Anthony Hamlett TKO (punches) HOOKnSHOOT: New Wind

Evansville, Indiana, United States Win

Yohei Suzuki Submission (guillotine choke) HOOKnSHOOT: Relentless

Evansville, Indiana, United States Win

Don Kaecher Submission (armbar) WEF 12: World Extreme Fighting 12

Steubenville, Ohio, United States Win

Mike Willus Submission (triangle choke) HOOKnSHOOT: Overdrive

Evansville, Indiana, United States Win

Mike Brown Submission (triangle choke) HOOKnSHOOT: Kings 1

Evansville, Indiana, United States