Will Hermes Franca Be Able To Stump "The Answer?"

For athletes with a relatively short career span, such as mixed martial artists, one year is an awfully long time. It feels even longer if you’re inactive. There are many fans who may have forgotten your presence, especially in a division with a slew of contenders ready and willing to take your place. In a sport were you’re only as good as your last fight, a 12-month absence is a difficult hurdle for anyone to overcome if they hope to make a successful and enduring comeback.

Enter the man without a nickname at the moment, Hermes Franca. The Brazilian fighter is returning to the Octagon on July 19 after a year-long hiatus for UFC’s free card to be shown live on Spike TV. His opponent will be the man known as “The Answer,” Frank Edgar. Their contest will be the co-main event, with the fight between Anderson Silva and James Irvin serving as the headliner.

The last time Franca was in action, he suffered a 5-round “shutdown” at the hands of then-champion Sean Sherk, in July 2007. After their title bout, both fighters tested positive for banned substances: Sherk with Nandrolone and Francafor Drostanolone. The difference was that Franca admitted to using the drug, because he wanted to heal quicker from an ankle injury he sustained before the fight.

Franca thus received a full-year suspension and a fine of $2,500. Sherk was fined a similar amount, but successfully appealed the verdict which resulted in his suspension being reduced to six months. Sherk was stripped of his title and then lost his next fight to BJ Penn at UFC 84, in a fight that determined who the true UFC lightweight champion ought to be.

The question is: how will Franca’s year-long absence from the cage affect him in the fight against Edgar? For his part, “The Answer” is coming off a defeat to Gray Maynard which took place back in April, where he got outwrestled by his much larger opponent. Edgar too is looking to get back in the win column, and a second straight loss for either severely limits their chances of receiving a title shot in the near future.

Regarding the match-up itself, a number of different scenarios could play out. On the feet, I think most fans would agree that Edgar has more technical striking, but Franca has more power in his hands. On the ground, Edgar will have the upper hand in the wrestling department, but Franca has a more dangerous jiu-jitsu game. Edgar has great jiu-jitsu himself though, and should not be underestimated no matter where the fight goes.

If Edgar chooses to keep the fight standing up, then whoever can get the better of the striking exchanges will win. If Edgar uses his wrestling to take the fight to the ground, he will have to watch out for Franca’s flying knees and submissions. “The Answer” may be able to pull off a decision victory using his wrestling and submission defense, but Franca has the potential to finish a fight anywhere, and simply will not give up. Edgar is a small lightweight, and may drop to 145 lbs. following a loss.

Both fighters have tremendous heart, and for Franca it showed in his last fight when he fought a grueling 25-minute decision against Sherk. Franca hung in there round after round, refusing to quit, and came very close to knocking Sherk out with a knee strike several times. He received a bonus from UFC president Dana White for his efforts.

Edgar proved his warrior’s spirit after surviving a very deep kneebar from Tyson Griffin in the third round of their epic struggle. Edgar, knowing that he would secure a decision victory if he lasted until the bell, did not tap out from a submission which could have critically injured him, and went on to win the fight. It was an authentic a showing of heart and grit as you could ask for.

Franca holds notable wins over Caol Uno, Nate Diaz, and Spencer Fisher. He was the champion in WEC’s lightweight division before vacating the title. Franca continues his quest for championship glory, this time in a more prestigious promotion. Edgar has beaten Fisher also, and right now is the only man to have defeated rising 155 lb. superstar Tyson Griffin, who has won his last four bouts.

With the UFC lightweight division full of participant’s eager for a shot at BJ Penn’s title, two consecutive losses do not look very appealing on anyone’s resume. The fact of the matter is that either Franca or Edgar will suffer a second straight defeat, and all that matters now is who will be walking away with their arm raised.

So will Franca be able to stump “The Answer?” There’s only one way to find out.