Heart Condition Bounces ‘Bulldawg’ From MacDonald Fight

Former UFC welterweight title contender Rory MacDonald is currently in search of a new opponent for his PFL debut now that 170-pound veteran David Michaud has withdrawn from the promotion’s April 29 main event at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

And “Bulldawg” may be saying goodbye to combat sports for good.

“So this is gonna be a tough post,” Michaud wrote on Facebook. “After multiple tests on my heart including a Cardiac MRI and talking with multiple cardiologists, I have been informed that I got a bad ticker. I have a Congenital bicuspid aortic valve with dilated aortic root.”

Michaud (18-6), who turns 33 in just a few months, is 3-2 under the PFL banner, having previously come up short against Ray Cooper III in the 2019 Season Championships. UFC fans may remember his brief run from 2014-15, as well as his stint on TUF 16.

“Unfortunately I was born with this and because of the dilation of the aorta, contact sports put me at risk for an aortic dissection which is a tear in the aorta,” Michaud continued. “That would be fatal under almost all circumstances. For this reason I will not be able to fight Rory Macdonald on April 29th, and unless anything changes, ever again.”

MacDonald has yet to comment.