"I look up to David because when I started my career he was the one of the new generation, the first of my generation to step in (the cage) and do it," said the 27-year-old St. Pierre, who debuted at UFC 46. "For me, he's like a big brother."
Even UFC president Dana White, who doubtless approved releasing Loiseau after his loss to Mike (Quick) Swick at UFC 63 in September 2006, is glad to have him back.
"Loiseau, he's another one of my favourites. I love that kid," White said. "He's such a nice guy. He went through a streak there in the UFC where he wasn't really letting it all go and got some losses.
"Ed Herman's a tough son of a bitch, man," he added, however. "Ed Herman's mean, nasty and tough. If Loiseau can get by him, he deserves to be back in the UFC."
Away from the cage, Loiseau is a big teddy bear of a man - a slab of muscle with an equally big smile.
But he can be vicious when it's go-time. Loiseau (18-8) built a reputation in the UFC as a fast, athletic high-kicking fighter who wielded his elbows as if they were a pair of box knives. He once described his fighting style as "boom."
His bout against Gideon Ray at UFC 51 was stopped by the ringside physician when he carved open a gash in Ray's head. The referee ended the McCarthy fight after the spectacular kick and knee, which stopped McCarthy in his tracks like as sledgehammer and then bowled him over.
Four wins in five UFC fights (the lone setback was a decision to Jorge Rivera at UFC 44) led to a main event title shot against then-middleweight champion Rich Franklin at UFC 58 in March 2006.
It was a five-round beatdown with Loiseau at the wrong end of a 50-43, 50-42, 50-42 decision.
Loiseau drew boos as he backed away in self-preservation before the advancing Franklin. The battered Canadian looked desperate on numerous occasions but managed to rock the champion midway through the third round. It was his lone hurrah.
But by the end of 25 minutes in the cage at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre, Loiseau looked like a bloody raccoon - his eyes grotesquely swollen.
"I just never quit. I thank God for giving me the courage," Loiseau said that night.
It took a week for the facial swelling to subside. Failing in a title shot was "heart-breaking," however. And the mental toll of pre-fight stress and post-fight criticism took its toll.
Franklin, despite dominating the fight, paid his own price. He needed surgery to insert seven screws and a plate in a hand broken in the second round. He also suffered a hairline fracture in his foot, had ligament damage in his left ankle and right knuckle, and needed five stitches over his left eye.
He didn't fight for seven months, losing his title to Brazilian Anderson Silva next time out.
Loiseau returned six months later but looked tentative in a loss to Swick, only opening up in the third round. He was subsequently released from his contract.
"It was hard to take but it's a business decision that they took and I respect it," Loiseau says today, perhaps proving time heals all wounds.
"Honestly it made me a better fighter. I'm so much better now. It happened for the right reason. Now that I look back, I'm happy I took some steps back to come back a lot better."
Loiseau went 1-2 his first three fights after being cut but has since won three straight. That got him his return ticket to the UFC.
"I think they wanted to see some consistency and they wanted to see a couple of wins, which he went out there and got," said agent Ken Pavia.
"Having been there and left, it really takes quite a bit to get a second chance. And very few people actually earn a second chance. They gave us parameters and we didn't duck anybody. We took every quality fight that was offered and earned a second shot."
While Loiseau and St. Pierre have always worked with trainer Firas Zahabi, they now share a crew of elite coaches. Loiseau used to search the Internet for conditioning tips - now he works with top strength coach Jon Chaimberg.
Loiseau, who says he is fitter, stronger and better than ever, never doubted he would be back in the UFC.
"I fought for the title and I'm such a better fighter now than I was before, so why not go back if I'm better than before, when I was there?
To succeed, White and St. Pierre says Loiseau will have to let his hands go - and use all his weapons. Loiseau's physical skills were always highly rated, but some wondered about the mental side of his game - especially after the Franklin fight.
"On the road back, he really needed to work on the mental aspect, which he has," said Pavia. "He's addressed every aspect of his game, that one in particular, and I think he comes back now as a more complete fighter. ... I definitely think he's much better prepared. And the David Loiseau that you're going to see in this UFC, I think would be an overwhelming favourite over the one that previously fought in the UFC."
Said White: "This guy trains with GSP, he's talented as hell. He can kick, he can punch, he's good on the ground. It's just like he wasn't letting it go for some reason. He's still young, he's in his prime. So we'll see. Herman's a mean bastard, man. If he can get through Herman, he's back."
Herman (16-6) insists he is ready for Loiseau.
"I've definitely been studying the tape on everything I could get. I'm excited, I think it's a good matchup for me. David's a very tough opponent, so it's definitely a tough fight but I feel like I'm ready, I've prepared my training camp properly. I'm excited to go in and shut him down. Whatever he tries to do, I'm ready to come in and try and put a stop to it."
Loiseau is a survivor, who notes his religious beliefs were strengthened by an ordeal at 17 when he fractured two discs in his back in a car accident.
He is also pragmatic. He learned basic English growing up in Quebec, but wanted it to be perfect. So one summer, as a 17-year-old, he took a job as a councillor at an English camp, forcing himself to learn the language.
Now he looks to make the most of a second chance in the cage.
"He's an amazing fighter and he's going to go far," St. Pierre said. "It's a new beginning for him and he's a different fighter."
