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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The Crow: Ready to Take Flight in EliteXC Debut

David "The Crow" Loiseau continues to get ready for his fight with Joey Villasenor at the upcoming debut event for Elite Xtreme Combat. The card which will take place in Southhaven, Mississippi, at the Desoto Civic Centre, on February 10th, will be the first for the new MMA promotion, an organization that will be showcased rather prominently due to its partnership with the Showtime Cable Network. The card's main event will see veteran fighters Frank Shamrock and Renzo Gracie do battle, but the night's most compelling fight, arguably, could very well be the scheduled bout between Loiseau and Villasenor.

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