Loiseau Climbs Back Up Middleweight Mountain

By: Sherdog.com

One of the most popular fighters to ever come out of Canada, one-time UFC middleweight contender David Loiseau (Pictures) has spent the past two years fighting in several different organizations since being released from the Las Vegas promotion in 2006.

After a string of three Octagon victories in 2005, Loiseau (17-8) challenged then-champion Rich Franklin (Pictures) for his crown at UFC 58 “USA vs. Canada” in Las Vegas, but took a pummeling for five rounds. A subsequent loss to Mike Swick (Pictures) at UFC 63 in September 2006 signaled the end of Loiseau’s UFC welcome at the time.

Initially hurt by the rejection, Loiseau told Sherdog.com that he learned to get over it.

“At first I felt disrespected, but then I understood that it’s a business to them,” says the 28-year-old Montreal native. “Whether you’re the nicest guy or an asshole -- whoever wins stays, that’s the name of the game. This is how they run their business and I respect it, and the only person to blame is me because I didn’t fight to my potential and I lost.”

UFC matchmaker Joe Silva has told Loiseau that he would be welcomed back someday, but that he first needed to go out and get a few wins under his belt -- something Loiseau is eager to do. In June, he needed just 20 seconds to dispatch Andrew Buckland (Pictures) by knockout at Raw Combat “Resurrection,” and he’s getting ready to headline XMMA 5 on Sept. 13, a promotion of which he is a part owner.

Though Loiseau has fought for the likes of EliteXC and Calgary’s Hardcore Championship Fighting, his heart still lies with the UFC, he says.

“I have considered others, but the UFC is where it’s at,” he says. “I want to finish what I started -- I got cut short and they didn’t let me finish what I wanted to do. I changed my whole game and am such a better fighter than before. I think I would give any middleweight a headache. You’re going to love watching me even more when you see what I can do now.”

Loiseau has also kept busy helping his teammates get ready for their big fights. UFC champion Georges. St. Pierre will be defending his welterweight title against Jon Fitch (Pictures) this weekend at UFC 87 in Minneapolis, and Patrick Cote (Pictures) will try his hand at the UFC middleweight crown against Anderson Silva (Pictures) on Oct. 25 in Chicago.

Loiseau is very enthusiastic about Cote and his chances against the formidable Silva.

“This guy has been in the Army in Bosnia and has seen people die in front of him. He’s not scared of Anderson Silva (Pictures) -- he’s not scared of any man,” says Loiseau. “Cote is coldblooded, and that’s going to help him so much.”