Canadian David Loiseau front and centre on new Elite XC MMA circuit

(CP) - A new mixed martial arts circuit debuts Saturday night as the EliteXC Destiny card takes place in Southaven, Miss., with Montreal middleweight David (The Crow) Loiseau on the card and Frank Shamrock-Renzo Gracie headlining.

Elite Xtreme Combat shows will air on Showtime in the U.S. and The Fight Network in Canada (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET).

In departures from the MMA norm, Elite is showing five undercard bouts for free over the Internet (www.ProElite.com, 7 p.m. ET). Plus there is a women's fight on the card, pitting Gina (Conviction) Carano against Julie Kedzie.

Elite XC president Gary Shaw, a veteran boxing promoter, expects a crowd of some 7,000 at the DeSoto Civic Center, home of the Central Hockey League's Memphis RiverKings, for the 10-fight card.

Shaw says a new player on the MMA scene can only help the sport.

"In the end the fan will be the winner," he said Friday from Southaven.

"It's like if you go to Burger King and that's your favourite, you shouldn't be upset that McDonald's is across the street. It's going to keep Burger King on its toes....I just think it's an absolute win-win for the fans - and the fighters, because now they have somewhere else to go and sell their trade."

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