Babalu, Hermes Headline NAGA Tournament in Miami

On Saturday, October 20th, 2007, the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) returns to Miami, Florida for its 8th annual Miami Grappling Championship No-Gi & Gi Tournament.

In the NAGA grappling superfights, Kodiak MMA favorite Renato "Babalu" Sobral will be taking on Jorge Santiago, and UFC lightweight Hermes Franca will meet Enrico Cocco. Earlier this month, Santiago submitted Jeremy Horn in MMA competition, so his match with Babalu should be exceptional.

In an effort to make these superfights as exciting as possible (and to prevent stalling), NAGA has scheduled them for just six minutes. The action kicks off at 10:30 AM, so if you're in the Miami area, check it out.

Hermes Franca Tests Positive

UFC lightweight contender Franca has tested positive to Drostanolone. As a result, he has incurred a $2,500 fine and a suspension through July 5, 2008.

The following is a statement from Franca (bolded items are my own doing):

In the next few days, the results from the California Commission will be released. The tests will show that I had a "banned substance" in my system.

I would like to apologize to my fans, the UFC, my students and family. I offer only an explanation and not an excuse. I made a decision during a difficult time in my training for the fight that I regret.

About 8 weeks out from the fight, I badly injured my ankle during a training session. For the following week I had rested it, rehabbed it and tried to work around the injury. It was obvious that I could not train as required.

I contacted the UFC and explained my injury and how I could not possibly train to the level I thought I would need in order to be properly prepared for my fight. I asked the UFC if we could push the fight out to the following UFC with the chance that it could happen. They explained that they could not do that and that the card had been set and it isnt as easy as just moving around a fight. I totally understood their position. They asked me to keep them informed should I not be able to fight.

I had not fought for 5 months. Fighting is literally how I put food on my wife and childs table and how I pay my bills. As a fighter though, even at this level, I live a simple life and I literally live from fight to fight. Not getting a paycheck for another few months and losing my chance to fight Sean for the title was overpowering. Fighting is the life I chose and I love it.

As a lightweight fighter, our purses are comparatively small. The public sees the payouts. As lightweights, we do not pull down the money anything near the bigger guys. Its just the way it is. I think Sean fought and defended his title for less than $30,000. Its no ones fault, its just the market. I love the sport, I love the people in the sport.

At this point I was desperate and needed anything I could to get my injury as close to healing as possible and be able to recover from the daily training regimen I was going through. I made the shortsighted choice to hopefully accelerate the healing process and allow me to keep training. Under the pressure of literally not being able to pay next months bills I made a choice. I had to fight and did whatever I could to do so.

I hope my fans, students, the UFC and the public accept my sincere apology. Whatever punishment is dictated by the California Athletic Commission I will understand. I would like to get through this very difficult time and the times ahead and get back to fighting. All the best to my fans and much thanks to my family and friends that continue to support me during these times.

Hermes Franca

This sickens me.

His excuse - I'm sorry - explanation is absurd. If his ankle was that bad, and if the UFC really told him to keep them posted on its condition, it's inexcusable that he'd employ a banned substance for any reason.

What's worse is that we're now put in a position where we should feel sorry that he is strapped for cash and couldn't afford to delay his pay day.

It's like when Tony Soprano lamented to his wife Carmela when his Russian girlfriend threatened him with suicide after he called it off between them. "She's depressed, the poor thing." Carmela responded aptly: "So I'm supposed to feel sorry...for a whore...who f**ks you?!?!

Franca, by his own admission, acted out of desperation and subsequently embarrassed himself and others. I remember him falling to his knees after he beat my man Spencer Fisher and begging that Dana give him a title shot. Dana held up his end of the bargain, but Franca did not.

And what if Franca had beaten Sherk? He'd have been stripped of his ill-gotten title, fined, and embarrassed. Furthermore, he had to have known that he'd be tested, right?

Hermes Franca was handed an opportunity that most fighters only dream of, and his stupidity could have cost him the opportunity to be a UFC world champion.

UFC 73 Ruminations

I re-watched UFC 73 last night and would like to share with you the follwing observations:

1) I'm still sour that the UFC did not televise Frankie Edgar's first-round TKO win over Mark Bocek. They could have shown it. There was plenty of time after the Florian-Robinson beating. Either way, I'm ready for Frankie Edgar vs. Roger Huerta.

2) Sean Sherk dominated Hermes Franca. There are really no two ways around it, but I think that finishing Franca would have sent a scary message to the rest of the division. After a while, Sherk's complete control became a bit predictable. Still, I am in awe of how he absolutely suffocated and manhandled a very tough opponent in Franca.

3) The Ortiz-Evans draw was better the second time around. I was impressed with Tito's aggression (especially the head kicks) and found Rashad's boxing to be underwhelming. Tito definitely doesn't like to get punched, and I feel that Rashad could have let his hands go in combinations.

For me, the best part of the fight was the clinch work against the cage when both fighters were working for position. I could see how it may bore some of you who aren't that into wrestling, but I really enjoyed it and appreciated how Tito looked to land some nasty elbows as the action broke from the fence. Nonetheless, I'm not dying to see the rematch, but I might be warming up to it a bit.

4) I love how Kenny Florian reminded the fans - and the rest of the 155-lb. division - that he finishes fights! Kenny looked excellent against a very powerful, very aggressive Alvin Robinson.

5) I thought that Nate Marquardt fought well, charging in immediately, grabbing Anderson Silva's leg and taking him down, and later taking a very heavy shot, only to drop down and go for another takedown. As for Silva, he looked phenomenal. Poised, confident, and almost surgical in his punches. I think that a rematch with Rich Franklin will once again go to Silva, and I think I'd rather see Franklin fight Marquardt. I see Marquardt taking Franklin down and beating him up on the ground.

6) Heath Herring is a guy I definitely hope to see more of. He landed some big shots, took some big shots, and showed tremendous skill on the ground against Nogueira.


As for that Round 1 head kick from Herring, I have no problem with referee Yves Levigne not stopping the fight. Nog looked dazed but didn't seem completely out of it (maybe just 90% out of it). Herring needed to have pounced with only seconds left in the round but instead waited for Levigne to stand Nog up, which he did -- eventually. I can understand Herring's hesitation to get into Nog's comfort zone on the ground, but that was ultimately his best opportunity all night.

Overall, I thought both fighters showed a lot of heart; Herring fought like a bastard against a more skilled opponent who's beaten him twice already, and Big Nog pressed on to win the fight after a head kick that would have put most men down for the night.

7) I would like to have seen the Bonnar/Nickels and Lytle/Gilliard fights, which were stopped in the very first round. The UFC should at least show highlight clips from the undercard fights, especially when they ended as quickly as these two did. Maybe next time.

8) It was very cool to see WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber in the crowd. My bet is that most fans had no idea who he was.

9) Mike Goldberg was OK. Nothing too stupid.

10) I'm sorry, but Bruce Buffer is insufferable. I don't care who his brother is, the UFC needs to jettison this dead wood. Even his suits sound terrible.