Franca-Kheder Headlines XVT 5 on Sherdog.com

Franca will enter the bout having lost six of his last seven fights, including four in a row. The 36-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt last appeared under the Israeli Fighting Championship banner in November, when he dropped a unanimous decision against Moshe Kaitz at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. Wins over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz, former International Fight League lightweight champion Ryan Schultz, one-time WEC lightweight titleholder Jamie Varner and fellow UFC veteran Caol Uno anchor Franca’s resume. He has delivered more than half (11) of his 19 career victories by submission.

A 13-time national judo champion in his native France, Kheder will carry a five-fight winning streak into the match. The 35-year-old has not competed since September, when he stopped UFC veteran Steve Berger on second-round punches at Mixed Fight League 3 in Montreal. An M-1 Global, Sportfight and Jungle Fight alum, Kheder holds a third-degree black belt in judo and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In 23 professional appearances, he has never been finished.

Hermes Franca vs. Ferrid Kheder
Alejandro Solano Rodriguez vs. John Gunderson
Alberto Crane vs. Ludwing Salazar
Bendy Casimir vs. Julio Brenes
Bryan Rafiq vs. Sydney Machado
Antony Rea vs. Tomas Gomez
Mike Dizak vs. Evan Vasquez
Mehdi Baghdad vs. Randall Jimenez