Rob McCullough vs Marcus Hicks WEC fight slated for Jan. 25

by James Iannotti on Dec 3, 2008 2:29 PM EST

A lightweight bout between former WEC lightweight champion "Razor" Rob McCullough (16-5) and one-time number one division contender Marcus Hicks (8-1) will take place at WEC 38: "Varner vs. Cerrone" at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif., on January 25, 2009.

Hicks announced the news while attending a small show just outside of Plano, Texas, last Friday.

Just four months ago Hicks was the top 155-pound contender, battling reigning division champion Jamie Varner for the lightweight title at WEC 35. He would, however, suffer the first loss of his career in that fight because of a first round blitzkrieg from "The Worm."

Prior to the loss, "The Wrecking Ball" had won three straight contests for the promotion against Sergio Gomez, Scott McAfee and Ed Ratcliff. Only one of the three fighters lasted past the first round and they each eventually tapped out to guillotine chokes.

He'll look to return to that previous winning form in this fight. And he will get an opportunity to do that against a very credible opponent to say the least.

Although McCullough has dropped two of his last three fights, he still remains one of the toughest outs in the WEC's 155-pound division. His last match against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone -- a hard fought unanimous decision loss -- was an absolute war.

He held the organization's lightweight title for an entire year from January of 2007 to February of 2008, but ran into a red hot Varner at WEC 32 and lost his strap. A win against Marcus Hicks would certainly put McCullough right back into the mix for a shot at the winner of Varner and Cerrone, which is scheduled to headline this event.

Also scheduled for the card is a rematch between former featherweight champion Urijah "The California Kid" Faber and ex-UFC lightweight champ Jens "Little Evil" Pulver, making this a great event for the WEC to kick off 2009.

WEC 38 will air live on the Versus network, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on fight night.

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lots of fights to watch tonight boys! all free too! so glad my wife is working late!
wec event live, followed by not one, but two episodes of TUF! Now if we can just all do a little prayer, and hope that Junie and Kristov both lose, my day will be complete!

by kevin on Dec 3, 2008 2:34 PM EST reply actions

Im going with Hicks on this one. Hey Kevin, I ment to ask you the other day what you thought of “The Sheild” series finale? Where do you think Mackey was going at the end?

by the_mexicutioner on Dec 3, 2008 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

I know you didn’t ask me Mexi…

I think Mackey grabs his gun and stuffs it in his back waistband as a way of saying ,“FU I am doing things my way”.

He then goes to follow the police sirens and “go out” on his own terms…

by OJR on Dec 3, 2008 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

Its cool man. I thought maybe he was going to find his family. I cant beleive the way Shane went out and what he did to his family. That was rough.

by the_mexicutioner on Dec 3, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

I think that part was the most fucked up and realistic part of the story.

by OJR on Dec 3, 2008 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

deppressing, but the sheild was the sickest show ever! the finale was the shiznite! at the end vic was just going home happy to be done with it all. most think he was gonna go cap himself.

by ronnie got the shaft! on Dec 3, 2008 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

I think he was going to work the 3 years and then live his life. He was too smart to screw it up and go to jail and too strong for suicide! He will want to find his kids, but the key was the 3 years and avoiding jail!

by kevin on Dec 3, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

Don’t know about Kristov but in a couple of threads back some bloggers have confirmed that Junie makes the finals…

by OJR on Dec 3, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

I REALLY hope that no one spoiled anything. If spoilers start coming out on here I would think that Mania would have to begin moderating EVERY SINGLE POST because I sure know that I don’t want to know who is fighting in the TUF finale until I watch the episodes myself!

All I know is that I read some speculation about Junie getting kicked off tonight. I said no way, because he does the weekly write ups for TUF on the official UFC website. There is no way he would have gotten that gig if he got kicked off the show and hence, out of the UFC. It also, clearly does NOT mean that he makes the finals. Perhaps people are just speculating from Dana’s video blog where when asked why he didnt kick Junie off the show, he said something to the effect of “keep watching, you’ll see why”

by ViolentMike on Dec 3, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe he does/doesn’t make the finals but in one of Dana’s video blogs before the Couture v Lesnar fight he’s all buddy buddy with Junie, so we definatly haven’t seen the last of him.

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

Does that mean Junie’s the next A. Silva?!?!

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

I suppose the jury is still out, but right now its 99% leaning toward Phillipe Nover. Dana already compared him to a “young GSP” on the show.

by ViolentMike on Dec 3, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

To be honest, I don’t see how he could compare either one to A. Silva, maybe he’s talking potential, or a few years down the line, but nobody’s coming straight off the show and taking the strap anytime soon.

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

Man this week is brutal. WEC, TUF, Fury FC, K-1, Shooto Brasil. It’s so hard to keep up and then next week starts the fight for the troops. As far this fight, i think Rob will be out of the WEC after this.

by NameNotRequired on Dec 3, 2008 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

Meh, Rob don’t care, he’s got what every fighter really needs, a hot porn star girlfriend. he’s good to go.

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

ViolentMike, the editors of TUF actually did the spoiling. On the previews for tonight’s show after the show from 2 weeks ago, someone yelled something that may have told who wins tonight. Mania even wrote it up in the breakdown of the last show. Pretty sure I know at least 1 guy in the finals.

by BNF on Dec 3, 2008 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Ahh, ok, that’s where that is all from

ANYWAYS…… BET US NOW HAS THE WEC ODDS POSTED!!!!!!!!

I just put in my parlay, chock-full-o-favorites:

Waggney Fabiano
Joseph Benavidez
Johny Hendricks
Mark Munoz
Miguel Torres

5 fight parlay paying out at just over 8-5

To me, Torres is the biggest question mark for my parlay, almost kept him off. However, he makes it go from 6-5 to 8-5, which I feel is a risk worth taking.

by ViolentMike on Dec 3, 2008 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

a five fight parlay? not being disrespectful at all but have you ever won one of those? that seems like a big gamble

by brendan on Dec 3, 2008 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

They only have tonite and next week to air the remaining episodes and they have 4 fights to show. I would think that there would be 3 episodes, 2 tonite, one next week, and one of the episodes would have two fights. But will that episode be this week or next week? Or is it not on next week and all 4 fights are tonite? DOES ANYONE KNOW??

Its really too bad that there was no way to watch the WEC prelim cards anywhere live…

As for Rob vs Hicks, its pretty easy. Fight stays standing, Razor Rob. Fight goes to ground, Marcus Hicks.

by ViolentMike on Dec 3, 2008 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

ALL FOUR FIGHTS TONITE, CONFIRMED!

by ViolentMike on Dec 3, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

1 question…Zuffa owns WEC right? Why then would they put 2 episodes of their reality show against a live show on VS? Doesn’t make much sense. Yes I have TIVO but it still sucks. Oh…One of your 2 wishes will come true tonight. Junie gone, but Krystoff is going to win.

by FukStyck on Dec 3, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

there not. wec airs before back to back episodes of tuf.

by b.w. on Dec 3, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks, I would have tuned in late to WEC then. Appreciate the response BW.

by FukStyck on Dec 3, 2008 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

no problem.

by b.w. on Dec 3, 2008 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

I wish my girlfriend would work late sometimes too

by McArthur on Dec 3, 2008 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

Does anyone else see Houston Alexander with the nick name “ASSASS” on there screen. I can’t stop laughing every time I look at it. You might want to do something about that MMAMania.

by Robb on Dec 3, 2008 2:56 PM EST reply actions

To me the wierd part is dropping three straight fights and then getting an endorsement deal with Lugz.

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

Not so weird. Lugz advertises to the “urban, street wise” guy or wannabe hip hop head who wants “street cred.”

Houston fits that to a tee w/o organizing a complicated marketing scheme to sell that image.

Newbies to MMA or the casual fan will buy Lugz w/o looking at his record twice.

by OJR on Dec 3, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Yes it all comes together now, they hook the hardcore fans with the Machida lightning backpeddle low top, then they get the street cred with the Houston wannabe high tops.

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

lol, I just can’t get over how gay he looks. Who wears jeans and no shirt now a days? and his neck looks like it should have a bunch of rings around it!

by kevin on Dec 3, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

U pickin on Houston but Machida’s in the same boat over there on the left…

by O damn he got caught on Dec 3, 2008 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

funny thing is, there the same weight class…no wonder machida runs..I mean is elusive! he looks just as gay, sorry, I’m an equal opportunity. I think the last time I saw someone walking around in jeans and no shirt, I was 6, early 80’s style right there guys!

by kevin on Dec 3, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions