The K.F. Dischley Group, a New York-based film and TV production company, has signed the former UFC fighter to star in a 13-episode series called "Crowtime."

Production is set to start in the spring, with the series scheduled to debut in the fall.

Loiseau, 32, says the show is about the daily life of an MMA fighter, inside and outside the gym.

"The interaction with fans, family, friends, teammates, other professional fighters, promoters," he said Wednesday. "It's just going to be the real life of a fighter."

Lee Andrew Myers, CEO and chairman of the Dischley Group, cited Loiseau's "personality and can-do spirit" as well as his background in choosing the Canadian.

"When you look at his past story and the adversity he had to overcome when he was younger to become who he is, that's the other aspect," Myers said.

"People are going to be drawn to him because he has such an incredible spirit," he added.

Away from the cage, Loiseau is a big teddy bear of a man - a six-foot slab of muscle with an infectious smile. But the former UFC veteran has not always been able to use all his skills to their fullest.

Still his flashy kicks and moves have lived on in UFC highlight reels, even while the fighter himself looked on from outside the organization.

His spectacular spinning back kick and flying knee finish against Charles (Chainsaw) McCarthy at UFC 53 in June 2005 was immortalized in a highlight reel to the sounds of The Who's "Baba O'Riley'' before UFC pay-per-views.

Loiseau (20-10) is a survivor. As a teenager, he fractured two discs in his back in a car accident.

He is also determined. 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.

He is considered an MMA pioneer in Quebec, making his pro debut in 2000 and entering the UFC in April 2003 when he knocked out Mark Weir at UFC 42.

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, also featured in "The Striking Truth," says Loiseau is "like a big brother."

Loiseau fought for the UFC's 185-pound title in March 2006, losing a punishing five-round battle to middleweight champion Rich (Ace) Franklin.

Franklin had his hand raised but at a cost.

He subsequently needed surgery to insert seven screws and a plate in his hand. He also suffered a hairline fracture in his foot and had ligament damage in his left ankle and right knuckle. Not to mention five stitches over his left eye.

Loiseau looked like Franklin had taken a baseball bat to his head. There were no broken bones - and only a few stitches - but it took a week for the facial swelling to subside.

Loiseau returned to the cage before Franklin did. Continued...