The long-awaited mixed martial arts debut of amateur wrestling standout Pat Downey will have to wait.
A former Division I All-American, Downey (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has withdrawn from his scheduled April 15 bout at Bellator 277 after he was diagnosed Tuesday with topical steroid withdrawal syndrome, also known as “red skin syndrome.”
Downey posted a series of graphic images and videos to his Instagram prior to the diagnosis, which showed his neck and chest broken out in a red, oozing rash.
“Between this progressively escalating undiagnosed flesh-eating disease & recently tearing my MCL / ankle I’m not sure I’ll be able to make my professional MMA debut April 15th,” Downey wrote in one post.
In a follow-up post, Downey revealed his diagnosis after he saw an allergist. He said it was his eighth doctor visit in six days. Downey attributed the health issue to stopping the use of topical cortisone creams, oral medications, and injections. Downey has an MRI scheduled for Monday.
“The worst side effect of this is the inability to ever feel comfortable,” Downey wrote. “Insomnia is a b*tch & I miss sleeping, training, walking my dog, & most of all; sleeping with beautiful south Floridian woman.”
MMA Junkie has since confirmed with a Bellator official that Downey is officially out of his scheduled fight vs. Daniel Compton (4-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). The event will roll on without him at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
Downey, 29, was a USA Wrestling world team member, ranked No. 10 in the world, an undefeated 2019 senior-level circuit, a Dave Schultz Memorial International champion, a competitor in the U.S. Open and World Team Trials, and NCAA All-American.
With the addition, the Bellator 277 lineup includes:
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- Champion A.J. McKee vs. Patricio Freire – for featherweight title
- Champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson – for light heavyweight title, grand prix final
- Jeremy Kennedy vs. Aaron Pico
- Tyrell Fortune vs. Steve Mowry
- Tim Johnson vs. Linton Vassell
- Kyle Crutchmer vs. Michael Lombardo
- Shane Keefe vs. Tyson Miller
- Gaston Bolanos vs. Cass Bell
- Alan Benson vs. Theo Haig
- Edwin De Los Santos vs. Alberto Mendez
- Calob Ramirez vs. Bobby Seronio III
- Daniel Compton vs. TBA
