(Ah, the good times)

With Sean Sherk about to make his return to the UFC, it kind of makes you wonder: what’s old Hermes Franca up to these days? He also tested positive for the ‘roids after that fight last summer, only he immediately admitted to it instead of appealing and getting his sentence reduced.

Since Franca got stuck with the full weight of his year-long steroid suspension from the CSAC, he’s still not eligible to fight until early July. He originally considered fighting overseas to earn some cash, but it turns out those damn athletic commissions won’t let you wait out your suspension from MMA competition by competing in MMA outside their jurisdiction.

Now Franca tells MMA Weekly that he’s ready to get back into action once his time is served, and he says there are some organizations that will be glad to see him come back:

“I’m hungry. Even though I’m busy right now, I want to fight soon. I hope to fight in July, but if not, I’m going to keep busy and wait for my next fight.

“I have a big name, I’ve fought very much and a lot of guys know me, and a lot of shows are looking for fighters. EliteXC, Affliction, the UWC, some big shows, and a lot of guys are showing interest in me. I’m just waiting for my moment right now.”

Since the suspension kept him from making a living in the cage for the past year, Franca has kept busy teaching jiu-jitsu seminars. One imagines that he also ends each seminar by hinting that it would be really cool if someone would let him crash on their couch and also perhaps give him some food.

What’s really strange though is that while Franca seems very into his life as a jiu-jitsu instructor, this statement makes you wonder if it hasn’t also had a negative effect on his career:

“(Other fighters train) a few weeks before fights, and I never did. I am always teaching and training fighters. I’m going to let my instructors teach at my affiliations academies, and I’m going to camp for myself for six weeks or seven weeks just training. That’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to do things like a professional, and so I’m going to come back stronger than ever.”

Huh. Doing things like a professional. That sounds like a pretty good idea. Also sounds like it would have been a good idea back when you were fighting for the UFC lightweight title. But whatever.