Fightin' Words

Newsday's Hank Winnicki answers your MMA questions today in a special live chat at 3 p.m.

Hey Fightin' Words readers...Check out our new mixed martial arts page, it's on combatwire.com. I'll be posting all my new MMA stories on there now.

Combatwire -- New York

By Joe Fernandez

Right now the former UFC champion is taking a break from the usual rigorous training regimen, but as the leaves turn color, Matt Serra turns back to all business.

Despite taking some time off, the Long Island product still managed to watch the main event of the UFC 85 card on Saturday, which featured Thiago Alves delivering a devastating knee to the head of Matt Hughes, knocking out the former champion and earning the win. But all Serra wanted to talk about was Hughes' next match.

"I knew regardless of that fight whether he won or lost that I'd be the next fight," Serra said. "Nothing is signed yet, but that's the fight that I believe the UFC will be looking to make...Hopefully by late fall we can do this."

Originally Serra was supposed to defend his title last December against Hughes, but two herniated discs in his back forced the East Meadow native out of the fight. Current champion Georges St. Pierre stepped in and fought Hughes for the interim welterweight title and won by armbar submission. St. Pierre then defeated Serra by referee stoppage in April at UFC 83 in Montreal for the undisputed title.

"It's a fight that he wants, that I want, the fans want," Serra said. "Noboby is going to be a supporter of both Matt Hughes and myself. It's either one or the other."

The 34-year-old Serra has compiled a 16-5 mixed martial arts record and is 6-5 in the UFC. He originally earned the title at UFC 69 in April of 2007 with a first-round referee stoppage against Georges St. Pierre.

"I have to punch guys in the face, guys I like, nice guys like Georges St. Pierre and Chris Lytle," Serra said. "You think I'm not going to want to jump at a chance to fight Matt Hughes? Come on."

By Joe Fernandez

Superhuman conditioning and superior wrestling ability are two things that Urijah Faber is known for.

Now after Sunday night's title defense against mixed martial arts veteran Jens Pulver, tactical boxing can be thrown into the mix as well.

Continue reading "Urijah Faber outlasts Jens Pulver in WEC title defense" »

6:05 p.m. Hey Everyone...it's Joe Fernandez.

I'll be updating you as best as I can tonight from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for the Elite XC fight card. Tonight the fights can be seen on CBS at 9 p.m., so feel free to join in on the discussion and ask any questions about the fight or the fighters. I'm sure either me or someone else on the comment portion of the blog can answer. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REFRESH THE PAGE SO YOU CAN SEE MY UPDATES.

Right now, Robbie Lawler is shadow boxing in the cage and providing the growing crowd with a couple of dance steps while the Bee Gees' "Night Fever" plays in the background. Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes will be in Lawler's corner and looks on from outside the cage and then conducts an interview.

There's a good buzz in here right now as the crew makes the last-minute preparations.

First fight is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. as Garden City's Joe Sampieri takes on Mike Groves in a 155-pound fight. I'll be back in a few...

Continue reading "Elite XC: Live Blog -- Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano earn wins" »

Here's a story I wrote on Jens Pulver fighting Urijah Faber on June 1. Jens seemed to be in great spirits during the interview. This is Faber's biggest fight to date, so it should be a great one on Sunday.

Here's the story

For BJ Penn, it's about an undisputed title.

For Sean Sherk, it's about redemption.

For Lyoto Machida and Keith Jardine, it's about getting to that next level.

For Tito Ortiz and Wanderlei Silva, it's all about returning to that level.

UFC 84 is riddled with crossroads. Mixed martial artists fighting not only for titles but for respect as well. Here are my predictions for Saturday's MGM Grand Garden Arena card in Las Vegas.

Continue reading "UFC 84 Preview and predictions" »

Randy Couture has opened up his sixth Xtreme Couture MMA gym and fitness center. Newsday.com was there in Centereach as Couture hosted a seminar on Sunday.

Enjoy.

-- Joe Fernandez

By Joe Fernandez

There's a picture of former UFC welterweight champion and Long Island native Matt Serra on their web site. The picture reads: "You can help me fight in New York."

The UFC-sponsored site is mmafacts.com. It's main objective is to "educate the readers on the sport of mixed martial arts and to advocate the regulation of the sport in New York," according to a spokesperson.

To have your voice heard, click on the picture of Serra then follow the directions to contact your representative in Albany.

By Joe Fernandez

In an effort to have mixed martial arts sanctioned in New York, representatives of the Ultimate Fighting Championship will visit Albany on May 6.

At 1 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, New York fighters Matt Serra and Matt Hamill, along with UFC staffers Marc Ratner, Lawrence Epstein and Michael Mersch will hold a press briefing, according to a source, then meet with legislators to highlight the positives that they believe MMA would bring to New York, including increased state revenue.

The last Ultimate Fighting Championship show, UFC 83 in Montreal, sold out the Bell Centre with 21,390 people at the April 19 event.

Fightin' Words readers: If mixed martial arts was sanctioned in New York, which two MMA fighters would you like to see headline a card at Madison Square Garden?