Edmonton — He’s known to fight fans as the brother of UFC star Charles “Air” Jourdain, but Quebec, Canada’s Louis Jourdain will start building his own career inside the octagon at UFC Edmonton this Saturday.
“The Mad Prince” won his way into the UFC on the Contender Series just over a year ago now, but the promotion delayed his debut with the hopes of putting him on a card alongside his brother, Jourdain (9-3) revealed during Wednesday’s UFC Edmonton media day.
With Charles suffering an eye injury against Chito Vera, that’s not happening, but Louis is still hopeful for the future.
“You know what would be very fun? Me and Charles in Montreal, in the Bell Centre. That would be amazing,” he told Cageside Press during his media day appearance. “Of course it’s a goal. We’re in this together. It has its pros and cons, to be on the same card, but it’s so much fun for the fans. For the people that like both of us, having both of us on the same card is pretty awesome. So yes, it’s a goal. I hope it’s going to happen next year.”
The UFC made their long-awaited return to Montreal last year, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them back again soon. And despite being asked about his brother constantly during this fight week, Louis Jourdain isn’t sick of the brother talk just yet.
“Not at all. My brother is everything, he’s the one that made the path for me. I kind of see it like, it’s a weird analogy, but it’s like we’re in a snowstorm, and Charles is walking in front of me, and I’m just walking in his steps,” explained Jourdain. “He’s the one that had to learn about everything, do the mistakes, and he’s walking in the snow and I just have to follow in his path. It’s still hard, it’s still in a snowstorm, but it’s a little bit easier for me since I’m walking in his steps.”
Fight fans, at least those who watch more than just the UFC, have been waiting for Louis Jourdain’s arrival for a while now. He’s put his time in on the regional scene, in Quebec’s TKO, and later Samourai MMA, among others.
Asked about his journey and whether he’s been able to take it all in this week, Jourdain said he did just that with his Contender Series fight.
“I took it in, especially when I fought in Contender,” he replied. In the back at the Meta Apex, watching a video montage of old training footage, “I got so emotional seeing my journey to here. That was a good moment for me, it was so fun to see.”
“I’ve been training since I was 12 years old. And since I’m 12, I’m now 29, I’ve been dreaming about this. It’s everything for me.”
Win or lose, Jourdain added, “I’m still going to be super proud of me to have made it into the UFC.” Especially after fighting through injuries and COVID that kept him out of action for two years. “I just pushed through, and now we’re here. I’m super grateful, and I’m proud of myself. Whatever the result of the fight, I’m proud of myself to have made it here.”
Watch the full UFC Edmonton media day appearance by Louis Jourdain above.