Props: Sherdog.com
Quoteworthy:
"A year ago I made a terrible mistake. I have paid for my mistake and I understand how wrong it was. I hope that you allow me to fight professionally because that's all I know and that's how I provide for my family. I am in Brazil and I have been praying really hard. I pray every night that you allow me the opportunity to fight again. I am willing to take any drug test at any time, on any day, wherever."
Former number one lightweight contender Hermes Franca pleads his case to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, declaring that he is clean of any banned substances and ready to return to action. The Brazilian was suspended for 12 months and fined $2,500 after an illegal steroid, Drostanolone, was detected in his system in the wake of his loss to then 155-pound champion, Sean Sherk, at UFC 73: "Stacked" in July 2007. Franca will still have to submit a urinalysis this week to prove he is indeed on the straight and narrow. And if the test comes back clean it will pave the way for him to take on Frank Edgar at UFC Fight Night 14 at "The Pearl" in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 19.
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