Loiseau Determined to Steamroll Stout,
Fight Way Back into UFC
By Joe Hall

Is there room for one more in the suddenly talent-crowded UFC middleweight class? David Loiseau hopes so.

David Loiseau Since its inception in September 2001, the short history of the UFC middleweight division reads like a newsbrief about a runner that stumbled at the starting line and crashed down nose-first into the track. It's been over two years since anyone wore the 185-pound title into or out of the octagon, and the belt has been officially vacant longer than anyone actually held it.

Random matches over the last couple of years allowed UFC middleweights to make deserved paydays but failed miserably to clear the muddled title picture created by Murilo Bustamante's exit. Now, though, it appears that the UFC has decided to pick itself up from the track, ignore the ugly scab on its nose and the confusion in its head, and start running in the right direction again.

They've infused 185-pound class with a wealth of potential and continue to do so leading up to UFC 50 next month. Fresh faces like Terrell, Prangley and Riggs join names like Tanner, Lindland, Franklin, Murray, Baroni, Salaverry, Lawler and Rivera to comprise a weight class now teeming with talent and poised to become the strongest division in the UFC.

But what about the best middleweight in Canada? "I'd like to get back in the UFC as soon as possible," says David Loiseau. "Cause I believe that's where I belong."

Those who have only seen Loiseau's two UFC bouts may hesitate to place his potential among the current crop of 185's in the UFC. Fans north of the border, though, and those who have seen the best of Loiseau seem to feel it's only a matter of time before he's brought back.

He was impressive in his UFC debut in April 2003, knocking out Mark Weir in the first round. Five months later, however, he lost a unanimous decision to Jorge Rivera and hasn't yet been asked to return. Most believe the UFC is letting the 24-year-old develop a bit more before pulling him back in.
Mark Weir KOd.
Mark Weir knocked cold
Loiseau may have also tried bouncing back too quickly by taking on Jeremy Horn in his first match after the Rivera loss. The bout lasted just 55 seconds, giving the Canadian back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career. He concedes that Horn may not have been the best opponent to face coming off a loss, but also insists that he doesn't duck anyone. "I made a mistake in the first minute of the fight," says Loiseau, who caught his hands in the ropes while trying to slam his opponent. He continued working for the slam anyway, and Horn slapped on a fight-ending guillotine. "When you make a mistake like that against Horn," he says, "you get submitted."

The loss to Rivera taught him to cut weight the right way. Don't mess around; don't wait to the last minute to start shedding. The loss to Horn taught him to ignore the hype. He hadn't been able to block out the buildup, and it cost him. "It really bothered me during the preparation for the fight," says Loiseau. "I was really, really nervous."

Three months later he entered the ring with the steadfast intention of letting his hands go. That's what his trainers had told him: Get back to doing what you do best, David. Use your speed; throw your hands. It took him 13 seconds to knock out Chris Fontaine.

Loiseau first began receiving attention after his rapid progression through the ranks of the UCC/TKO. That stretch of accelerated development landed him in the UFC. Now he's talking like his learning curve has again shot through the roof, like he's improving in some way every half hour. According to Loiseau, he's "10 times" the striker that traded with Jorge Rivera. More than anything, he says, his accuracy on the feet has improved.

He faces another competent striker in two-time UFC veteran Curtis Stout this Saturday at TKO 17. Asked if Stout can hang with him on the feet, Loiseau replies quickly, "No way. No way. He might think he can, but after the first few minutes, I don't think he'll be able to stand."

Loiseau pegs Stout as an athletic middleweight who's quick and dangerous on the feet -- just not nearly as dangerous as himself. Don't be surprised to see Loiseau try to stop Stout on the ground, though, if that's where his foe's defense proves most vulnerable. Regardless of where the fight takes place, Loiseau has two intentions: make it decisive, make it entertaining.

"I just have to make sure every fight of mine is an exciting fight," he says. "Make sure (the UFC) will want me back after they see the tapes."

Loiseau will need to show something special, something that demands he brought back into an already talent-rich weight class that's full of fighters jockeying for a prolonged stint with the UFC. If not now, then he needs at least to be dominant on Saturday and demonstrate the continued development he speaks of. "The thing is that I can't afford to lose anymore," he says. "I'm not Phil Baroni. I lost once to Jorge Rivera, and they haven't brought me back. It's been a year. I guess I can't afford to lose, or I have to be a little more exciting. Whatever it is, I'm going to make sure I'm back in there and I'm going to stay there."

It's probably not true that he can't afford to lose again. At just 24, there will be more defeats. Another loss before he gets back in the UFC, however, would indeed hurt him. A lackluster performance even in victory would also hinder the effort, but Loiseau isn't talking about going the distance with Stout, and he certainly isn't talking about a loss. He expects a dominating win at TKO and a long future in the UFC. "I'm going to make sure the next time I come out, I'm going to make an impact," he says. "Make a statement, make sure people know and recognize I'm an exciting fighter and I have a lot of skills."

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QUICK QUOTES
David Loiseau assesses some of the talent in the UFC middleweight class and how he'd fight them:

Dave Terrell: "Very explosive standing. Very explosive and very, very good Jiu-Jitsu."

How would you fight him? "You don't rush into things. On standup, you keep your hands up. and you have to sprawl and brawl this guy. Keep the fight standing up."

Evan Tanner: "Very good clinch, but his hands are not there. Very good ground-and-pound."

How would you fight him? "Another guy that you have to keep outside. Use your reach to fight him outside. If it goes to the ground, you have to make sure you're on top (Loiseau laughs). He's good with his elbows and he has very good wrestling. Make sure you take the center of the ring when you fight this guy."

Rich Franklin: "Very experienced. Very, very slick. Underrated Jiu-Jitsu skills. He's very good on the ground, especially on the bottom. Complete fighter, very good conditioning. Very good hands.

Joe Riggs: "Very solid hands. Wrestling-wise, he's not that good. But very, very good hands, very good ground-and-pound."

What middleweight would you match yourself against to make the most entertaining bout? Phil Baroni.

Loiseau was watching a tape of one of his UFC bouts when he heard Baroni's comments about Canada. "I took it very personal. He said there was nothing good north of the border besides maple syrup. It's kind of funny at first, but then you think about it and he's just insulting all of us.... Respect others if you want to be respected."

Who's the best middleweight in the world right now? Anderson Silva. "He just proved it by beating Horn and Lee Murray, one after the other. Right now he's number one."

Where will you be on the MMA ladder in one year? "I hope I'll be ... actually I will be in the top five fighters in the world. With my progression -- it's dramatic, a dramatic progression -- I know I'll be one of the top five fighters in the world.
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