Rob McCullough’s career in the WEC is in the past, as the former lightweight champion of the promotion is set to make his debut in Tachi Palace Fights this summer.
McCullough recently signed on with the promotion and has been matched up in a 160-pound bout with Thomas Denny for July 9 at Tachi Palace Fights 5. The match up was announced today by MMAjunkie after speaking with a source familiar with the negotiations.
The fight is an opportunity for McCullough to gain back his level of fighting, following several years of struggles. After losing his WEC lightweight title to Jamie Varner at WEC 32 in Feb. of 2008, he failed to reestablish the championship level he once fought on. McCullough went 2-2 in his last four fights with the promotion, ending his career with the UFC’s sister organization with a split-decision loss to lightweight prospect Karen Darabedyan.
Denny, a 44-fight veteran of the sport, is coming off a submission victory from last August, rebounding from consecutive losses to Pat Miletich and Nick Diaz. Even with the recent win, Denny has fallen on hard times over the past couple of years, much like his future opponent.