After moving to Florida to live with a friend, Franca competed in the Florida State Jiu-Jitsu tournament and met Marcelo Silveira. Hermes has numerous titles including NAGA Grappling Champion; Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Champion; Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Champion; HOOKnSHOOT featherweight champion (145 pounds); World Extreme Fighting champion; and World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion.
He carries a professional MMA record of 15-5-0.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Hermes made his pro MMA debut in 2001 and submitted Mike Thomas Brown (Pictures) via triangle choke. He would go undefeated through ’02 and ’03, going on an 8-0 run. In the Mixed Fight Championships Franca submitted Phil Johns (Pictures) via rear-choke and knocked out Manny Reyes Jr. (Pictures) at AFC 1 before losing a decision in a rematch with Yves Edwards (Pictures).
This time the loss to Edwards sent him on a downward spiral where he would lose three bouts in a row. He was knocked out by Ray Cooper (Pictures) in a Shooto bout and lost a decision to Koutetsu Boku (Pictures) at K-1 HERO’s 3. He rebounded at WEC 19 by knocking out Gabe Ruediger (Pictures), who had won nine in a row.
The win rejuvenated Franca’s career and began the five-fight win streak he is currently on.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 3-2. Hermes beat Richard Crunkilton (Pictures) in his Octagon debut by decision at UFC 42 and followed it with a knockout of Caol Uno (Pictures) at UFC 44. He would suffer back-to-back decision losses to Josh Thomson (Pictures) at UFC 46 and Yves Edwards (Pictures) at UFC 47. After two years fighting around the globe he would return to the UFC and choke out Joe Jordan (Pictures) in the third round of their bout last month at UFC 61.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has the ground fighting pedigree but he’s not afraid to stand and trade. In fact he welcomes it. He has been fighting at the top level for much of the last five years so his experience is invaluable. He has a lot of heart, exhibited by not folding when he lost three in a row. Franca roared back, knocking out his next two opponents and submitting two more.
VARNER: 5’ 8”, 155 pounds, 21, Phoenix, Ariz., known as “The Worm”
BACKGROUND: Jamie Varner fights as part of the Arizona Combat Sports camp with Jesse Moreng (Pictures), Brian Mitchell, Santino Defranco (Pictures) and UFC veteran Drew Fickett (Pictures).
The NCAA ranked wrestler was a NSCAA national runner-up in wrestling and a NCBA national boxing champion. He sports a professional MMA record of 11-1-0 (2 NC).
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Varner began fighting MMA in 2003 and his only loss is to current teammate and undefeated KOTC veteran Jesse Moreng (Pictures). He would go on a 7-1-1 run in the Arizona-based Rage in the Cage promotion, including a win over BRAUSA fighter Justin Nauling at RITC 49.
Jamie also fought to a No Contest with James Upshur RITC 61. Outside of his home state he submitted Kyle Bradley in ’04 and stopped Jesse Bongfeldt (handing him just his second loss) with strikes at World Freestyle Fighting 7.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Varner is a decorated wrestler and boxer so he can take the fight anywhere. And as one might expect from an athlete with a wrestling background, Varner knows some submission and favors chokes. He also hasn’t gone the distance in a fight since early in his career.
MY PICK: Franca. It won’t be a walk in the park but Franca has taken out some of the best lightweights in the sport. He has also rediscovered his submission abilities, having tapped out his last three opponents. This could be very interesting early but it is a fight Franca should win by submission.