UFC Veteran Hermes Franca Sentenced to 3 Years for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Former UFC fighter and owner of Team Hermes Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jutsu Academy Hermes Franca Barros (37 years old), also known as Hermes Franca, was recently sentenced to 42 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing an underage female who was a student at his training facility in Clackamas, OR.

With an overall record of 22-12 in his Mixed Martial Arts career, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has become quite the journeyman fighter since his UFC release in 2009, fighting three times in April  2011 for three different MMA promotions in three different countries.

According to an article by Everton Bailey, Jr., from Oregonlive.com, Franca “pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Court on Wednesday to one count of unlawful penetration and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.”

Originally from Fortaleza, Brazil, Hermes began his MMA career in 2001, eventually vying for the UFC 155 pound lightweight championship versus Sean Sherk in 2007.  Though Hermes lost his title attempt via unanimous decision, both fighters tested positive for banned substances.

Though officially retired after his 2009 release from the UFC, Franca continued fighting and was scheduled to fight Drew Fickett for the Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) lightweight title in June 2011.

However, Hermes’ MFC contract was terminated in May after he turned himself in to authorities as a warrant was issued for his arrest.

As reported by Bailey, Franca left a final impression on mixedmartialarts.com forum:
   
"Drinking, women, parties, all part of a lifestyle that has led to my failing as a husband, a father, a dreamer," he wrote. "I am now a man with very little freedom."

Oregonlive.com reports that Hermes Franca “will also have four and a half years of post-prison supervision and must register as a sex offender.”

Roland Riso is a contributing writer for Bleacher Report.  All quotes and info were obtained from Wikipedia.org (link) and Oregonlive.com (link). Check out more of his work at MMAIdiot.com.