Sherdog.com Preview: UFC 61 “Bitter Rivals” Part I
Hermes Franca vs. Joe Jordan
Jul 6, 2006
FRANCA: 5’ 5”, 155 pounds, 31, Fortaleza, Brazil
BACKGROUND: Franca is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and trains as part of The Armory with Paulo Dantas (Pictures), Matt Wiman (Pictures) and Kurt Pellegrino (Pictures). He played soccer as a boy and then after discovering jiu-jitsu began training under Marcus Aurelio (Marcus Aurelio' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures) in Fortaleza, Brazil. 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 lbs), World Extreme Fighting Champion and World Extreme Cagefighting Champion. He carries a professional MMA record of 14-5.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Submitted Mike Thomas Brown
(Pictures) via triangle choke at
HOOKnSHOOT Kings 1, Ryan Diaz
(Pictures) via guillotine choke at
HOOKnSHOOT AFC 1 and Steve
Kinnison at FCC 20. Stopped Kazuki Okubo (Pictures) before submitting Phil Johns (Pictures) via rear choke, both in the MFC.
Hermes then knocked out Manny Reyes Jr. (Pictures) at AFC 1 before being knocked out
by Ray Cooper (Pictures) at Shooto Hawaii Unleashed. He
lost a decision to Koutetsu
Boku (Pictures) at K-1 Hero’s 3, but rebounded to
knockout Gabe Ruediger
(Pictures) at WEC 19. He followed that
with a KO of Ryan Schultz
(Pictures) at AFC 16. Franca submitted
Toby Imada (Pictures) via armbar at Total Combat 14 and
Brandon Olsen via armbar
at WEC 21.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 2-2. Beat Richard Crunkilton (Pictures) by decision at UFC 42. Knocked out Caol Uno (Pictures) at UFC 44. Lost a decision to Josh Thomson (Pictures) at UFC 46. Lost a decision to Yves Edwards (Pictures) at UFC 47. He also lost a rematch with Edwards at Euphoria: USA vs. the World
JORDAN: 5’ 6”, 155 pounds, 27, Pikeville, Kentucky
BACKGROUND: Jordan was an All-State wrestler in high school and became a wrestling coach afterward. His desires to compete lead him to MMA. He trains with Miletich Fighting Systems in Iowa and is a brown belt under Pat Miletich (Pictures). He also has a blue belt in jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie Jr. His carries a pro MMA record of 19-9-2.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Was submitted by Rich Clementi (Pictures) at Freestyle Fighting Championships 2. Lost a decision to Melvin Guillard (Pictures) at the Battle of New Orleans 3. Was stopped by Nick Agallar (Pictures) a Freestyle Combat Challenge 12. Fought to a draw with Josh Neer (Pictures) at AFA Judgment Night. Fought to a draw with Roger Huerta (Pictures) at Extreme Challenge 56. Jorge Gurgel (Pictures) later submitted him via guillotine choke at the same event. Defeated Kolo Koka (Pictures) by decision at Super Brawl 38. Lost a decision to Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) at XFO 5. Lost a decision to Clayton Guida (Pictures) at XFO 8. Knocked out John Strawn (Pictures) at KOTC Redemption on the River.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has good wrestling skills and has developed a ground game through jiu-jitsu. He has won five in a row and knocked out three of his last five opponents. He seems headstrong and confident in his abilities.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Fair. It doesn’t have the fire of Huerta-Franca but it should still be entertaining. This will be Hermes’ chance to shine in his return to the UFC. Jordan could play spoiler by taking out a former lightweight title contender, but making his debut in the UFC on short notice will certainly affect his game.
BACKGROUND: Franca is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and trains as part of The Armory with Paulo Dantas (Pictures), Matt Wiman (Pictures) and Kurt Pellegrino (Pictures). He played soccer as a boy and then after discovering jiu-jitsu began training under Marcus Aurelio (Marcus Aurelio' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures) in Fortaleza, Brazil. 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 lbs), World Extreme Fighting Champion and World Extreme Cagefighting Champion. He carries a professional MMA record of 14-5.
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UFC EXPERIENCE: 2-2. Beat Richard Crunkilton (Pictures) by decision at UFC 42. Knocked out Caol Uno (Pictures) at UFC 44. Lost a decision to Josh Thomson (Pictures) at UFC 46. Lost a decision to Yves Edwards (Pictures) at UFC 47. He also lost a rematch with Edwards at Euphoria: USA vs. the World
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.
JORDAN: 5’ 6”, 155 pounds, 27, Pikeville, Kentucky
BACKGROUND: Jordan was an All-State wrestler in high school and became a wrestling coach afterward. His desires to compete lead him to MMA. He trains with Miletich Fighting Systems in Iowa and is a brown belt under Pat Miletich (Pictures). He also has a blue belt in jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie Jr. His carries a pro MMA record of 19-9-2.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Was submitted by Rich Clementi (Pictures) at Freestyle Fighting Championships 2. Lost a decision to Melvin Guillard (Pictures) at the Battle of New Orleans 3. Was stopped by Nick Agallar (Pictures) a Freestyle Combat Challenge 12. Fought to a draw with Josh Neer (Pictures) at AFA Judgment Night. Fought to a draw with Roger Huerta (Pictures) at Extreme Challenge 56. Jorge Gurgel (Pictures) later submitted him via guillotine choke at the same event. Defeated Kolo Koka (Pictures) by decision at Super Brawl 38. Lost a decision to Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) at XFO 5. Lost a decision to Clayton Guida (Pictures) at XFO 8. Knocked out John Strawn (Pictures) at KOTC Redemption on the River.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has good wrestling skills and has developed a ground game through jiu-jitsu. He has won five in a row and knocked out three of his last five opponents. He seems headstrong and confident in his abilities.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Fair. It doesn’t have the fire of Huerta-Franca but it should still be entertaining. This will be Hermes’ chance to shine in his return to the UFC. Jordan could play spoiler by taking out a former lightweight title contender, but making his debut in the UFC on short notice will certainly affect his game.
