Fightin' Words

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...

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.

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?