Knee injury forces Hermes Franca off Fight Night 17 card against Joe Lauzon

by Jesse Holland on Jan 27, 2009 7:11 AM EST

Hermes Franca (19-7) has been scratched from his 155-pound match up against Joe Lauzon (17- 4) at UFC Fight Night 17 at USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on February 7 due to an ACL tear in his right knee.

Here's a snip from the Brazilian:

To all my Fans, unfortunately I am not gonna be able to fight UFC 17 in Tampa Florida, I just tore my ACL on my right knee last Saturday....I think you guys deserve to hear that from me. I just want to take care of that, and Joe Lauzon you're lucky mother fucker lololol (J/K). Thank you UFC, my fans, friends for the support, I was training hard and I was so excited, but there's nothing I can do, (could be worse), so Hermes Franca will take a break for some recovery and come back stronger than ever like I always do!!!!

Franca has been on a roller coaster ride during the past 18 months. The former number one contender recently returned from a 12-month steroids suspension, losing to Frank Edgar in his July comeback fight at UFC Fight Night 14.

The Brazilian then rebounded with a win against his former Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher Marcus Aurelio at UFC 90: "Silva vs. Cote" in October. And shortly thereafter he was arrested in Jupiter, Fla., on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

That case is still pending; however, Franca has insisted that he was exhausted, which caused him to drive erratically. He is innocent until proven guilty.

Lauzon, too, rebounded from a recent loss — a first for him inside the Octagon — to stop Kyle Bradley via technical knockout (strikes) at UFC Fight Night 15 in September. Prior to the win, he was one of the many recent victims of Kenny Florian courtesy of a second round technical knockout loss at UFC Fight Night 13 back in April.

"J-Lau" was the favorite to win The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 season before meeting up with Manny Gamburyan in the semifinals. He has four wins in five attempts inside the Octagon.

No word yet as to a possible replacement, but with less than two weeks until fight night the UFC is certain to make it a top priority. Franca joins Amir Sadollah as high profile main card fighters who were booked to compete in Tampa, but have since been scratched.

To check out the rest of the UFC Fight Night 17 fight card click here.

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Comments

That kind of sucks, but as long as they give Joe a decent replacement then I’ll be happy. A fight with Franca, although interesting, isn’t exactly super anticipated. Hell, they might even come up with a whole new main event, kind of like UFC 85 where it was Chuck/Shogun, then Chuck/Shad, and then they came up with Hughes/Alves. Regardless, I’m going to this, so I’m going to be happy no matter what! My first!

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 7:16 AM EST reply actions

Scrap the Tyson/Dos Anjos fight! Tyson vs Joe! Make it happen!

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

Great idea synyster!

by john on Jan 27, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

I really wanted to see how Joe would do against such a tough seasonedf fighter like Hermes. Hope whoever they replace him with can put up a decent fight against JOe who is a freaking ANIMAL!

by john on Jan 27, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions

What about someone like Maynard?? It would be a good test for both J-Lau and The Bully

by Crazy Canuck on Jan 27, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

Maynard is fighting Jim Miller sometime soon. That will be a great fight IMO. But if I had to take one of those guys out, I’d take Miller and put him against Joe. Granted, I wouldn’t consider it a main event, but that would be a SICKKK fight!

Got class now till 12:30. I’ll check back in round 3.

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Maynard scheduled to fight one of the Millers i think

by McArthur on Jan 27, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

you’re right, he’s up against Jim Miller @ UFC 96, my bad….

by Crazy Canuck on Jan 27, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

Fighter Replacement***
Jeremy Stevens is replacing Hermes Franca in the main event against JOe Lauzon!

by john on Jan 27, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

This would have been a very exciting match. I was very much looking forward to this. I still google UFC Mania out of habit to get to this site. I came across this while doing so. Some may have alraedy seen it, but others might not have. Check it out, the heading is Was Jerry Springer The Start UFC Mania. Its hilarious.

http://bbcicecream.com/blog/2009/01/26/jerry-springer-ufc/

by Ade on Jan 27, 2009 7:27 AM EST reply actions

who will replace Franca?

by mad_drummer on Jan 27, 2009 7:29 AM EST reply actions

what about a rematch with Manny

by McArthur on Jan 27, 2009 7:30 AM EST up reply actions

For a main event?? No way dude.. And Manny is scheduled to fight Thiago Tavares sometime soon.

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 7:41 AM EST up reply actions

huh…didn’t know that was the main event….weak sauce

by McArthur on Jan 27, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

For a main event?? No way dude. And Manny has a date with Thiago Tavares soon

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions

so I guess the guy with the huge X is the one who’s hurt….just clarifying

by McArthur on Jan 27, 2009 7:29 AM EST reply actions

How about “cocaine possession charges force Hermes Franca off card”…that is what the UFC SHOULD HAVE decided.

by Wags on Jan 27, 2009 7:31 AM EST reply actions

Spencer fisher would be the ultimate.

by MrFyer on Jan 27, 2009 8:53 AM EST reply actions

Melvin Guillard?

Matt Wiman?

Huerta would have been good too.

by oddchild on Jan 27, 2009 8:59 AM EST reply actions

I think its time Danny Adabi deserves to heldline a UFC event.

by UKmmaBOY on Jan 27, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions

We all know it will be some IFL flunkie… However, that’s ok because they’re free fights! The only thing better than free fights is a free BJ(Penn) while watching free fights

by HapPenis on Jan 27, 2009 9:49 AM EST reply actions

Let Roger Huerta finish his contract with this fight good challenge for both I think Lauzon will trade with him and Roger has good jits defense. Would love to see this fight happen.

by hk on Jan 27, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions

NO crap we would love to see this fight happen. THe reason it WONT happen is because Huerta has a good shot of beating Lauzon, and the UFC wont let Huerta walk away from them with a high profile win, while giving a loss to one of the UFC’s young studs (Lauzon).

Huerta last fight is going to be against someone that Huerta will lose to. NOt saying Joe cant beat him, but its just too close of a fight for the UFC to book under these circumstances!

by john on Jan 27, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

Huerta’s last fight will be against someone who needs to be punished or is boring and Dana wants released.

by PW on Jan 27, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

ive read rumors that huerta/sherk could be his last fight. i think shek could grind out a win against him. i’m surprised the ufc hasn’t already just cut him.

by b.w. on Jan 27, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

i like the idea of spencer fisher hopefully hes in shape but hell bobby green just fought the other lauzon short notice might as well get him to fight this one

by Jared on Jan 27, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions

The fight that was supposed to be happened on the finals. Nate vs Joe?

by Davlat on Jan 27, 2009 12:40 PM EST reply actions

If off course Nate makes a quick work of Carpenter, which i don’t think will happen

by Davlat on Jan 27, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD!MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD!MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD!MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD! MELVIN GUILLARD!

by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 27, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions

… what about him?

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

UGH! They should have Melvin Guillard kick J-Lau’s @$$ instead of Hermes!

by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 27, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Huerta should replace. Let him free from his contract.

by EazyEismydad on Jan 27, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions

To be honest the fighter I’d most like to take Franca’s place is Kurt Pelligrino. He’s one of my favorite fighters at 155 (along with Joe) and I think it makes for an excelent fight. Two fast, explosive, well rounded fighters facing off. I know Kurt is fighting Emmerson so this fight probibly won’t happen, but it would be sweet. Maybe they could throw one of the new TUFers in with Joe. How about Philippe or Junie. Most of the good ones have already been suggested. Just putting a couple more possibilities out there.

by DB on Jan 27, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions