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David Loiseau On His Journey As A UFC Fighter And Entrepreneur
David Loiseau Is A Champion In And Out The Cage
As an urban journalist it always seemed odd to me how we lack coverage on some of our hometown heroes and David Loiseau to me is definitely one of them.
Before Jean Pascal and George-St-Pierre, David Loiseau was making a name for himself in a sport that fascinates the minds of fans around the world today: The Ultimate Fighting Championship .
His track record as a fighter speaks for itself but what amazes me more is how he made it a point to inspire others. I look at Mr. Loiseau as a pioneer with an incredible story to tell. This is a story of how one can go after a dream, manage to become great at it and still reinvent himself in the process.
This week, we had the privilege to do a Q&A with the fighter turned entrepreneur and we’ve touched on everything from his rise in the UFC, discipline, entrepreneurship & more:
#1 Did you always knew you would make it to the UFC ?
Since I first saw it on VHS lol. It became a dream of mine to participate in the UFC.
#2 How does your discipline as a fighter affect your day to day?
I train everyday. Whether I feel like it or not. I believe motivation is not enough to reach your goals. You need a high level of discipline. I apply this mindset to everything in my life.
#3 As a black athlete, do you feel like you had love and support from people in Quebec?
Absolutely. Quebec is very multicultural and I’ve have had Quebec fans from various religions and races. Quebecers saw me as an athlete. Not a black athlete. But of course there’s racism everywhere. Even here in Quebec. If you say there’s no racism here , you’re pretty delusional. But all that is It’s really out of my control. All I can do is keep being a gentleman, set a good example by always being respectful to others and keep working hard.
#4 Do you see a correlation between fighting and real life?
We all have our own little wars , our own little battles. Gotta make sure you stay resilient no matter what. For some it’s a fight to get out of bed early. For others it’s a fight not to eat that extra piece of cake or just to get out and socialize with others. Martial arts taught me that to be able to reach certain goals, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
#5 How does your transition into entrepreneurship came about?
Entrepreneurship has always been a part of me. I’ve had many business ventures in the past. Opening my my gym was the most logical step in my career. After 2 knee surgeries, I realized I couldn’t pull the trigger in my fights the way I did in the past.
#6 You seem like a natural born actor. Do you have more projects either in front or behind the camera coming soon?
Yes. It’s funny because I actually started martial arts at the age of 9 years old after seeing Jean-Claude Van Damme movies and I wanted to make movies like him. It’s only after competing in my first Karate tournament that I found the love of competition. I am definitely pursuing an acting career. I also write scrips and stories.
#7 Do you see yourself in some of the students you coach? If so, how?
I see myself in all of my students. Even though I am the teacher in my dojo I realized that there is always something you can learn from anyone. Believe it or not. I’ve even learned valuable lessons from some kids I teach! Lol
#8 The UFC has exploded in popularity recently, did you get your entourage’s support in the early stages of the sport?
Yes. I started competing professionally in June 2000. The dark years of MMA. There was no money and no fame. It was really for the love of the sport and the love of competition. But all my close friends and most family members still supported me. I’m blessed when it comes to that.
#9 If you had to change ONE thing in your journey what would it be?
I wouldn’t change a damn thing lol! The beauty of having many ups and downs during a professional career is that you find out pretty quickly who ‘s really your friend. Who’s really got your back. Lots of people will tell you they love you when your winning. But when you’re not on top anymore you realize that what they loved is what they gained by being associated with you. They loved what they could take from you. Mike Tyson said it best: “Everybody you fight is not your enemy and everybody that helps you is not your friend.”
#10 Which stereotype about the fighting world you would like to change?
I think as long as you don’t cross the line,(Mentioning family members, spouses or kids) anything goes. Every great rivalry needs a good guy and a villain.