Franca On Penn, Suspension, More

Hermes Franca, just over 7 months into a 12-month suspension for a failed drug test after his Lightweight Title fight with Sean Sherk, recently talked about how he's spent the time away from fighting. He talked about working with BJ Penn and other possible training with other camps coming soon.

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Im glad Franca isin't done fighting im disappointed in him for juicing but he'll never do it again and hopefully come back determined to fight for the title.

I hated to see him get suspended but what impressed me is that he at least didn't make a huge mess out of it like certain other fighters have, he did appeal but I felt he handled the situation quite professionally. He didn't lose any respect from me.

It's a shame he is sitting out for a year, considering the the roll he was on coming into the Sherk fight.

Also, I find it interesting that BJ would say all the things that he's said about Sherk using...and then invite Franca to come help him prepare for his fight.

One of my favorite fighters. I'd love to see him roll with Penn and Garcia.

If Franca only proclaimed his innocence from the start, took a polygraph, and engaged the CSAC in a legal battle, he would have been eligible to fight right now!

Hermes is the man. I met him last winter and he's sincerely one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Nice to see he's gonna be training with some of the best. Hermes juiced to get over an injury so he could fight and stay out of the po' house. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I believe him.

Funny he might work with penn since he keeps making fun of Sherk for steriods when Franca did too

I lost no respect for Hermes because he came out and admitted his mistake like a true man. Nobody is perfect in this world and using bad judgement is part of human nature. Accepting your mistakes takes guts.

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Posted by kerazzle

I lost no respect for Hermes because he came out and admitted his mistake like a true man. Nobody is perfect in this world and using bad judgement is part of human nature. Accepting your mistakes takes guts.

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If by "admitting his mistake" you mean "failing a piss test", then Franca is a hero.

BJ Penn is making himself out to be a pretty big hypocrit here. He Bashes Sean Sherk as many times as he can for doing steriods, even tho Sherk still maintains he didn't do them. Hermes Franca ADMITS he did steroids, and BJ is getting all warm and cozy with the guy. Doesn't make any sense to me at all, but hey, BJ is nuts. Just ask him. haha...

And The Notion that Hermes has guts for admitting it and not losing respect for him, well, if you think that, that's your opinion. But I totally disagree. The Guy Juiced up just like sherk did. Just happens that everyone is focusing on Sherk because he's the Champ, He won the fight, and he claims he didn't do it. Hermes Might not look like as big of an idiot since he admitted it, But the Fact is, THE GUY CHEATED TOO! Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but taking steroids is just about the most stupid and gutless thing you can do. Simply acknowledging that he did, indeed, do them, does not gain him any more respect in my book

seems a shame that sherk gets time off his suspension by making a big deal of it and franca admits wrong doing and does the full time. if they had found something that led to them reducing sherks sentence that would be one thing but for me it seems like they basically found him guilty and took off time because they were so inclined and that seems ridiculous to me.

I agree that BJ is being a hypocrite here. And if a guy admits to taking steroids he keeps all respect? I don't get how some people can be saying this. People even on this forum constantly shit talk Sherk and in this thread I see people showing love for Hermes and saying he still has their respect. It makes no sense to me! If two guys get suspended from the same fight for steroids they are obviously both in the wrong. Who cares if Sherk fought it. Maybe he really didn't do it. Nobody knows for sure. They do with Hermes though. So if you're gonna shit talk one guy you may as well shit talk them both. Don't respect on cheater and rag on another.

So Franca roided to avoid having to tell the UFC he wouldn't be able to compete in time for his scheduled title shot.

If he would've just been honest, they would've given him a title shot as soon as he was healthy enough for it. Just look at Karo.

oh, nevermind.

My respect for guys as it pertains to the juice is:

1. Guys who do not take steroids
2. Guys who take steroids, get caught, and admit that they take them
3. Guys who take steroids, don't get caught, and claim they don't take them
4. Guys who take steroids, get caught, and still argue they don't take them


So I have more respect for Franca now than if he fought the suspension, but it still puts him below guys who are clean. Unfortunately, I think people would be surprised what the ratio of group 1 to group 3 athletes are--and that goes for almost any sport, not just MMA.

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Posted by ChokeUout

BJ Penn is making himself out to be a pretty big hypocrit here. He Bashes Sean Sherk as many times as he can for doing steriods, even tho Sherk still maintains he didn't do them. Hermes Franca ADMITS he did steroids, and BJ is getting all warm and cozy with the guy. Doesn't make any sense to me at all, but hey, BJ is nuts. Just ask him. haha...

And The Notion that Hermes has guts for admitting it and not losing respect for him, well, if you think that, that's your opinion. But I totally disagree. The Guy Juiced up just like sherk did. Just happens that everyone is focusing on Sherk because he's the Champ, He won the fight, and he claims he didn't do it. Hermes Might not look like as big of an idiot since he admitted it, But the Fact is, THE GUY CHEATED TOO! Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but taking steroids is just about the most stupid and gutless thing you can do. Simply acknowledging that he did, indeed, do them, does not gain him any more respect in my book

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100% correct. BJ wants to make a "Natural" title but invites a guy into his camp that is "unnatural." I lost respect for Hermes just like I would for any steroid user. He might have the excuse Sherk was too big and wanted to juice up to give him a better chance but his ass still got lay'd on for 5 rounds.

But I guess the good thing about it is he's taking it pretty well and putting it in the past. I just don't think he'll ever get back on top.