Franchi has signed a five fight deal with the promotion, according to Gary Marino of GVM Sports Management, speaking to Five Ounces of Pain.

Trained by his co-manager, Ryan Ciotoli of Bomb Squad MMA in New York, Franchi will make his WEC debut on Sept. 10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. against Jose Aldo.

The Northeastern-based Franchi made his pro debut on October 27, 2007, defeating Richard Miner via first round TKO while competing under the Extreme Fighting International banner in Springfield, Massachusetts. He improved his record to 2-0 last year when he submitted Brian Conrad on a Full Force Productions show this past December with an armbar at 2:15 of round 1.

In 2008, Franchi took a step up competing for Joe Cavallaro’s World Championship Fighting promotion in Massachusetts, where recorded a second round TKO over Justin Homsey at 0:40 of round 2 in February. The win earned Franchi a shot with the International Fight League during the promotion’s May 19 show. In that bout, Franchi needed just 2:19 to submit Frank Latina with a rear naked choke.

This has been a big week for GVM Sports Management and the Bomb Squad, as Marino confirmed that Jon Jones has signed a four fight deal with the UFC and will make his debut next week at UFC 87 in Minnesota as an injury replacement for Tomasz Drwal in a light heavyweight bout against Andre Gusmao.

This will be Pulver‘s first fight back from elbow surgery and a decision loss to Urijah Faber in June. This will also be Garcia’s first fight back since being implicated in a cocaine ring and since being cleared. Many people came out of the woodwork to trash Garcia but have yet to be seen since he was cleared of his charges.

WEC 36: September 10, 2008

• FW Title: Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown
• MW Title: Paulo Filho vs. Chael Sonnen
• Jens Pulver vs. Leonard Garcia
• Rob McCullough vs. Donald Cerrone
• Johny Hendricks vs. Alex Serdyukov
• Jake Rosholt vs. Danillo Villefort
• Mark Munoz vs. Steve Steinbeiss

Garcia, however, was cleared of all federal charges last week. Released on a recognizance bond in April, he spent two months under house arrest. A possible state charge for obstruction of justice still hangs over his head, though it would net him only probation if he were convicted.

“My attorney called me and told me [federal prosecutors] didn’t feel like it was something they wanted to take to trial,” said Garcia, who claims his entire ordeal was a matter of guilt by association. “The federal guys looked at the case and determined they didn’t have enough evidence.”

The report goes on to state that Garcia has missed out on over two months’ worth of training but has been welcomed back to Greg Jackson’s Submission Fighting camp in Albequerque, New Mexico. Garcia still faces state charges but as stated above, a conviction would only mean a probation sentence for the 28 year old.

This is great news for Garcia as he had just recorded a vicious upset knockout victory over Japanese sensation Hiroyuki Takaya at WEC 32 in February and was on his way to making a name for himself in the 145 lbs. division.

Garcia was one of thirteen people that had been arrested earlier this year in association with with an El Paso, Texas cocaine ring that allegedly was operation from El Paso to Hub City. The reported arrests came after the close of a four-year investigation by law enforcement officials.

According to a report by KCBD News Channel 11 in Lubbock, Texas that came shortly after the arrests were made in March, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office claimed that the operation seized about two kilograms of cocaine along with drug trafficking paraphernalia, firearms and money.

Garcia has maintained his innocence the entire time and insists that he’s been found guilty through association.

It must be noted that after several searches of the web, there are still no local news reports that can be found to verify Garcia’s claim of the federal charges being dropped. A concentrated search of KCBD News’ website has no followups from their original piece.

Five Ounces of Pain intends to attempt to contact federal authorities after the holiday in order to try and verify Garcia’s claim.

“I am fighting it because there is nothing but someone saying I was involved,” said Garcia, who was released from jail on a reconnaissance bond and will return to court on May 5. “I hope to have a smile on my face after this is said and done, but I feel like I’m in a fight for my life.”

“I’d like to tell my fans to stick with me and pray that the liar in this case tells the truth,” Garcia said. “I want to get back to doing what I do best: fighting for the fans.

“Your past is exactly that. My life has a bright future, and people that don’t have that don’t want me to have one either. May God forgive them.”

“Me and my family are very strong,” Garcia said. “I was the glue that held us together. Now they are the wall that is protecting me and giving me support. We just ask everyone to keep an eye on this and to support us in this time of need.”

Nothing here that we didn’t expect, especially the news of Garcia fighting the charges. I don’t think any of us would admit to something that could net us forty years to life in prison without a due legal process. Like I’ve said before, let’s wait until this whole matter is resolved before we sling mud at Garcia. If he’s done something wrong, he’ll be punished for it, make no mistake about that.

Check out more Leonard Garcia content on FiveOuncesOfPain.com!

Thirteen members of an alleged drug trafficking organization are off Lubbock streets after a four-year investigation. Authorities say the cocaine ring spans from El Paso to the Hub City.

NewsChannel 11 has learned one of those arrested is mixed martial arts fighter Leonard Garcia. He was arrested Tuesday in allege connection with the cocaine ring. Garica is currently ranked sixth in the featherweight class in MMA. He has fought in UFC and Ultimate Fighting championships.

If convicted, three of those arrested could face up to 40 years in prison and up to a $2 million fine. The others could face up to life in prison and up to a $ 4 million fine.

Let’s all hope that Garcia isn’t heavily mixed up in this and they just brought him in for questioning. Only time will tell how it plays out and with these things, it usually takes a lot of time. We’ll bring you any updates to this story as it progresses.

Probably most remembered for his three round war with UFC posterboy Roger Huerta, Garcia will now apply his trade in a division that is more suited to him. According to trainer, Greg Jackson:

Leonard (Garcia) is such a great fighter and a strong guy, but he walks around at like three pounds over weight.

We talked after his last fight, and 145 is where he’s going to be.

Garcia’s last fight, which Jackson is referring to was a disappointing unanimous decision loss to TUF 5 veteran Cole Miller at Ultimate Fight Night 11.

The WEC 145 lbs. division is headed up by champ Urijah Faber and former UFC lightweight champion, Jens Pulver and other talented fighters such as Jeff Curran and Cub Swanson.

Read more on FiveOuncesOfPain.com

That’s kind of a tough draw for Berube. He’s a tough dude but is a little inexperienced. Yet they are still throwing him in there with a guy who gave Roger Huerta fits a few months back. Is that “Monstah’s” punishment for playing the role of John McCarthy during the Noah Thomas/Marlon Sims street fight?

Also, Roger Huerta has apparently confirmed Doug Evans as his opponent for the same card. Since Huerta is a poster boy for the UFC, I fully expect his bout to be on the televised portion of the card.

Garcia debuted at UFC 69, losing to Roger Huerta in a close match. A product of Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico, Garcia has a great deal of potential.

 Garcia did not know his opponent as of yet but whoever he fights, expect him to appear on the non-televised portion of the card. The televised portion appears set with B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver set to fight in the main event, Marlon Sims vs. Noah Thomas in their “grudge match”, and of course the lightweight tournament final. If a fourth match is shown, I sure hope it’s a third place bout between the two fighters that lost in the semifinals.