Canadian promotion Maximum Fighting Championship announced Thursday that it has released Hermes Franca from his contract, and that Franca will not participate in his scheduled June 10 lightweight title bout with Drew Fickett at MFC 30 “Up Close and Personal.”

“Mr. Franca’s legal situation is a matter in the hands of law enforcement officials and soon to be going before the courts,” MFC Owner and President Mark Pavelich (Pictured; file photo) stated in a release. “Because of that, there will not be any further comment on those allegations, but I have taken immediate action to indicate that he is no longer going to be part of my organization.”

The “legal situation” to which Pavelich refers is Franca’s Monday arrest in Clackamas County, Ore., on multiple charges of sexual abuse and unlawful sexual penetration.

According to the promotion’s announcement, Franca also violated the terms of his contract by fighting twice outside the organization.

“Mr. Franca breached his contract by fighting outside of the organization only 15 days after his bout at MFC 29, and then he fought again six days after that in Brazil and lost,” said Pavelich. “I find these actions to be incredibly disrespectful to my company and Mr. Franca is no longer welcome as part of the Maximum Fighting Championship.”

The MFC is currently engaged in a search for a replacement opponent to face Fickett at the Mayfield Inn Trade and Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. An announcement is expected shortly.


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Onetime UFC lightweight contender Hermes Franca now sits in an Oregon jail after turning himself into authorities.

Franca stands accused of sexually abusing a female minor at a jiu-jitsu academy in Clackamas, Ore., where he once taught. He turned himself into the Clackamas County Jail on Monday.

At an arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Franca plead not guilty to seven counts of sex abuse in the first degree and two counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree. His bail has been set at $250,000.

Each of the charges against Franca carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 75 months, Chief Deputy District Attorney Greg Horner of the Clackamas County District Attorney's office today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Horner said Franca has been "cooperative" with the District Attorney's office.

A release hearing for Franca is set for Friday, and his counsel is expected to ask for a reduction of his bail. He has retained a Portland-based lawyer, Ryan Corbridge, to represent him.

"We adamantly deny these allegations and want to point out that he's innocent until proven guilty," Corbridge said today.

A July 12 date has been set for Franca's trial, though Horner expressed doubts that the date would hold.

"It's unlikely that a case of this significance would go to trial this quickly," he said.

Franca was scheduled on June 10 to fight Drew Ficket for the Maximum Fighting Championships lightweight belt, but MFC president Mark Pavelich said he is releasing Franca "immediately" from his contract and wound find a new opponent by midnight tonight.

Franca (21-11) made 11 appearances in the UFC and was released from the promotion shortly after a knockout loss to Tyson Griffin at UFC 103. His career highlight came at UFC 73 when he fought Sean Sherk for the lightweight title and lost by unanimous decision.

News of Franca's arrest was first reported by Examiner.com overnight.

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