Canadian middleweight Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald (24-14) has suffered yet another injury and has had to withdraw from his upcoming UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck bout with Rafael “Sapo” Natal (12-3). Natal will now face another Canadian Jason “Water” Bongfeldt (21-6) who will make his UFC debut.
News of the change was first reported by Natal’s management, Dominance MMA Management, late Tuesday night.
No word on the nature of MacDonald’s injury was released. The fighter suffered a serious leg injury last Spring against John Salter at UFC 113, which occurred during a takedown attempt by Salter. The fight was stopped in the first round giving Salter a TKO win due to MacDonald’s injury.
Bongfeldt is riding a seven fight win streak but hasn’t fought since September of 2009, having earned a submission win at a Rumble in the Cage event. The Canadian has fought under various promotions throughout his career earning 9 (T)KO wins and 12 submission victories.
Natal meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a loss in his UFC promotional debut to Rich Attonito in Septembers UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares event. “Sapo” was on a two fight win streak having KO’d Travis Lutter at May’s Moosin: God of Martial Arts event, and submitted Allan Weickert a year ago during a Ring of Combat event.