MMANews.com's own Luis Cruz spoke with top Middleweight contender David “The Crow” Loiseau yesterday evening to discuss his Elite XC debut on February 10th against Joey Villasenor on SHOWTIME, among other subjects. Below is a complete transcript of the interview.
Luis Cruz for MMANews.com: This is Luis Cruz at MMANews.com joined by former UFC Middleweight contender and one of the top Middleweights in all of MMA, David Loiseau. David, what's up man?
David Loiseau: What's up my man, how are you?
MMANews.com: I'm doing good, and yourself?
David Loiseau: Very good, thank you.
MMANews.com: First thing I want to ask you because not too many have heard from you since your fight at UFC 63. What have you been up to?
David Loiseau: Just training [laughs]. Improving my game. That's all, just making sure I'm improving. I'm out here in San Diego, I'm training with Brandon Vera and it's going well. I'm happy.
MMANews.com: I'm going to rewind a little bit here. The Rich Franklin fight, how is that effecting you now mentally, if at all?
David Loiseau: Well yeah, I guess. Not that much, but it was a tough fight and I've moved on, you know?
MMANews.com: That's what I'm asking, as far as today is that still in your head?
David Loiseau: Oh, hell no [laughs]. That's like last year man!
MMANews.com: Oh, was just wondering because some people have trouble getting over mental hurdles like that, a real definitive loss when they've never experienced it before.
David Loiseau: Nah, I've lost before man. I walked away with that fight with some bruises and everything, but he seemed to be the one who came out of it the more banged up.
MMANews.com: Now, we'll fast forward a little bit to the next fight you had, and your most recent to date against Mike Swick. Fans and media said you seemed to fight overly cautious in the first couple of rounds and didn't seem yourself but then in the third round you opened up and you seemed to be on a different level than him. What was the reason you took so long to get going in that fight?
David Loiseau: Oh, I don't know. I just took six or seven months off without fighting [prior to that fight] and …I don't know. Plus my body was in a five round mode still.
MMANews.com: Meaning, to pace yourself?
David Loiseau: Yeah. My body was still …I trained so hard for the fight [against Rich Franklin] that it took a while to get that out of the system. So, yeah. Yeah, that's one thing about me I can fight five rounds and [the Swick fight] that was a three rounder. So it …I don't know, it messed me up man [laughs].
MMANews.com: Right. Now, you kind of disappeared for a little bit after that fight and obviously the rumors then started circulating that the UFC let you ago, which seemed to catch everyone off guard. How did this whole thing come about with Elite XC?
David Loiseau: Elite, man I just got cut by the UFC and started working man, started looking around and just looking for somewhere to fight, you know? That's what I do for a living, I'm a fighter. So I came across the people from Elite and I got a pretty good contract and I think things are awesome, you know?
MMANews.com: So financially this [signing with Elite XC] was the best move for you?
David Loiseau: Oh yeah, this is the biggest contract I could find in my MMA career.
MMANews.com: Wow, ok. That's a good sign from them.
David Loiseau: Yeah.
MMANews.com: Now you talked about how you were improving your game while you were taking this recent bit of time off from the spotlight, what specifically have you been working on to improve your game?
David Loiseau: Just training with different camps. Training with different trainers, you know? I been training with …I train with Rob Kaman, I train with Brandon Vera. Just training with different sparring partners and different atmospheres you know? Different training regimines because it's important to improve your game. If you don't want to plateau and stay on the same level, you got to make sure you go out there and learn new things and get out of your comfort zone and get out there and train hard. That's what I'm doing.
MMANews.com: Now before we get to your fight next week, real quick what were your thoughts, your reaction when you saw your training partner and friend Georges St. Pierre win the UFC Welterweight title, especially in the fashion he did?
David Loiseau: Yeah, I was happy as hell. I was almost crying man, I was so proud of him because he did it so …he made it look so easy [laughs]. You know, he made it look easy. The one thing is I was cornering Georges for that fight and when I saw that Matt Hughes wanted to stand up with him, when I thought he [Hughes] felt comfortable in his stand up game, is when I knew we were going to win the fight very easily because Matt Hughes is not a stand up …he's not a striker, you know? He might have learned a thing or two but he's not in the league of St. Pierre when it comes to that. Georges has been striking since he was eight years old, you know so all the stuff Matt is learning right now, Georges has already had it within his system for the longest time.
MMANews.com: Let's go ahead and get back to Elite XC, and your fight with Joey Villasenor. That's next Saturday, February 10th on SHOWTIME. Now, Joey is a very formidable opponent for you. What are you focusing on in this fight?
David Loiseau: What am I focusing on?
MMANews.com: As far as what do you know about his game and what are you going to focus on as a result?
David Loiseau: Well, Joey's the kind of guy that comes out and fights hard, you know? He's a very good fighter and I know what he's going to bring to the table. He's going to come in and fight hard and I just got to focus on myself and make sure I do what I'm supposed to do.
MMANews.com: Alright David, say you come out victorious in this fight. What do you see next for yourself?
David Loiseau: One fight at a time man [laughs], I don't know. We'll see man, one fight at a time. Right now I'm all about Joey Villasenor and we'll see next, man. Ask me after, ask me on the twelth [laughs].
MMANews.com: Now, have there been any talks about a Middleweight title in Elite XC anytime soon?
David Loiseau: There haven't been any talks at all, I'm worried about Joey Villasenor that's it. I know Frank [Shamrock] and Renzo [Gracie] are fighting for the title and that's about it. I'll fight anybody man, you know? That's one thing about me. You look at my record, go to Sherdog and check out my record. I've fought a lot of guys, even when I had only 6-7 fights I fought guys with a lot of experience. I don't care who it is, I'm a warrior I just go out there and fight.
MMANews.com: Ok. Now, did you say Frank and Renzo are fighting for a title?
David Loiseau: Yeah, I think. That's what I heard so I'm not sure. I remember hearing that at a press conference somewhere.
MMANews.com: Oh ok, see I wasn't even aware of that. That's what I was asking, I didn't know if Elite XC had a title established yet, for your division.
David Loiseau: Oh, yeah I'm not totally sure but I remember hearing that.
MMANews.com: Is there a possibility of a UFC return in the future if the offer is brought up or would you rather ride with Elite XC and watch them grow?
David Loiseau: You never know what could happen in the future. The thing with UFC is I've been with them for a long time, but we'll see man, we'll see. Elite XC hasn't had a show yet so we gotta wait to see what's up, you know? What happens. I'm still on good terms with the UFC, and I'm on good terms with Elite XC. I'm just …I'm cool with everyone man. I'm not man at them for cutting me. I was at first but then I came to realize it was a business decision and that's it, you know? I'm cool with everyone.
MMANews.com: Now, I'm assuming Elite XC has an open contract where if you did want to fight somewhere else you can because Renzo obviously fights in the IFL as well, and Frank for Strikeforce…
David Loiseau: ..Yeah.
MMANews.com: So is that the case? Are you allowed to fight for other promotions still?
David Loiseau: Umm, man I don't think I'm allowed to discuss all that stuff. [laughs] I'd have to check and see man, I couldn't really tell you right now.
MMANews.com: That's understandable. Alright David, before we get out of here is there any sponsors you want to mention or anything you'd like to say to your fans out there?
David Loiseau: Fans, thank all the fans for supporting me through the thick and thin and that's why I'm going to come out there and fight very hard for you guys and put on a great show. I'll show you the real David Loiseau on February 10th. For the sponsors, I'm still waiting for ya'll, man [laughs]. I had like a lot of sponsors before but I don't know man it's slow right now when it comes to sponsorship. So anybody who wants to sponsor a pro, holla at your boy.
MMANews.com: Well there you have it sponsors, you've got a top Middleweight – everyone's favorite “The Crow” David Loiseau – about to fight on SHOWTIME in a couple weeks. Get a hold of him by clicking here. Alright David, appreciate you taking the time.
David Loiseau: Not a problem man, always glad to do it as you know.
MMANews.com: Good luck on February 10th.
David Loiseau: Thank you sir.
MMANews.com: Alright, that was David “The Crow” Loiseau. You can see him in action on SHOWTIME for Elite XC where he'll take on fellow Middleweight contender Joey Villasenor on the undercard of the major “Destiny” show featuring Frank Shamrock vs. Renzo Gracie. For further information on David Loiseau or Elite XC, visit EliteXC.com.
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