This Saturday two South Florida residents, at different stages in their careers, enter the octagon to do battle in separate fights at UFC 103 in Dallas.

One is a veteran of 13 UFC and WEC bouts. A 35-year old master of ju jitsu who has been training with some of the best instructors from an early age, the other a 25-year old former participant in “The Utimate Fighter” who picked up the sport just six years ago.

The one big similarity between these two warriors is the one goal they have set in their minds: being UFC’s lightweight champion.

The older of the two is Miami’s Hermes Franca. South Florida MMA fans remember Franca’s UFC debut. It took place in downtown Miami, at AmericanAirlines Arena against Richard Crunklinton Jr. At one point, Franca popped Crunklinton’s elbow out of place and ever so gentleman-like popped it right back into place. He was awarded a unanimous decision.

Now Franca takes on another lightweight contender in Tyson Griffin. It’s another tough opponent on Franca’s resume, but he knows that every opponent he faces will be characterized as tough.

“Tyson is a young kid who’s hungry,” Franca said. “He’s gonna try to use his wrestling and cardio against me. I want to work my ju jitsu, and use my hands to knock him out. He’s going to feel my pressure. I’m not going to do anything crazy, but I’ll use my experience to beat him.”

It’s a bit strange hearing Franca talk about knocking an opponent out, not because he’s not capable of accomplishing it, but because of how far he’s come as a fighter. When he first debuted in UFC it was submission attempt after submission attempt. Now Franca has developed into a complete fighter.

“Back in the day there were some UFC fighters that didn’t know ju jitsu or how to wrestle or how to punch. Now everyone is somewhat equal,” Franca said. “Everybody knows a little bit about everything - how to take people down, how to apply submissions and how to throw punches. It’s made it a tougher sport, and like everyone, I had to learn some aspects of my game that weren’t as sharp."

One aspect of his game that has never lacked was his ground game. Franca was born and raised in Fortaleza, Brazil, a city that has produced other UFC contenders such as Thiago Alves, Wilson Gouveia and Marcus Aurelio. Aurelio, like Franca, was a student of Sazinho, the man who Franca himself called “the Helio Gracie of Fortaleza.” Aurelio was a higher belt than Franca and ended up becoming his teacher. Years later, after a falling out, the two are no longer on speaking terms and ended up fighting each other at UFC 90 in October of last year. Franca won by unanimous decision and says he still has nothing but respect for his former teacher and American Top Team teammate.

“Against Marcus it was a tough fight and an important fight because he was my coach,” Franca said. “He said a few things before the fight that weren’t true, but I have nothing, but respect for him. He’s a hard worker, like all fighters from Fortaleza. I guess it’s in our blood.”

Now that he’s settled the score with Aurelio, Franca is now focused on Griffin. He knows a win against the Sacramento product could earn him a shot at B.J. Penn’s lightweight title.

Franca lost in his only attempt at the championship versus Sean Sherk in July of 2007. He knows that he was so close to accomplishing his dream, and yearns for another shot at glory.

“I got my chance and I was really excited, but I lost my chance,” Franca said. “Now I’m more focused than ever. I’ve bounced back. Look at B.J. [Penn] for example. He once lost to Pulver, but now he beat Pulver, and submitted Kenny Florian, and beat Sherk. I love B.J., but I want my opportunity to fight him, to show the world that I’m back. I’m going to give it all my strength to fight for that title once again, and this time finally become champ.”

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