WEC 39 This Sunday: Mike Brown V. Leonard Garcia, Rob McCullough V. Marcus Hicks

It wouldn't be a weekend without televised MMA, as this Sunday brings us the latest offering from World Extreme Cagefighting, headlined by the first featherweight title defense from Mike Brown and a potential must-see, slug-fest on the undercard.

While Carlos Condit's fight was pulled due to his call-up to the UFC, this should still be a good card.  We'll be looking for a strong performance from top to bottom as several of the recent WEC shows have struggled from fluke stoppages, bad fights, and inconsistency.

Having said all that, it's your ropes, ring, and cage preview of WEC 39 from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX this Sunday on Versus at 9 PM EST.

- WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown (20-4) vs. Leonard Garcia (16-3)

In the first defense of his belt since shocking Urijah Faber, Brown heads into enemy territory to face Garcia in his home state of Texas.

It's just another day for the under-appreciated champion, who enters Sunday's fight with an eight-fight win streak. Garcia is a nine-year veteran, and won his last two fights via KO/TKO after a 1-2 record in the UFC.

While Garcia enters this bout with a four-inch height advantage, we'll take Brown via third-round TKO and look forward to an early-summer title defense vs. Faber.

- Rob McCullough (16-5) vs. Marcus Hicks (8-1)

Coming off his "match of the year" candidate vs. Donald Cerrone, McCullough enters Sunday's fight with Hicks hoping to get back on the winning track.

The former WEC Lightweight Champion has gone 1-2 in his last two, after winning nine in a row. Hicks is looking to rebound after his August lost to current Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner.

This fight could end in a variety of ways, but if Hicks gets McCullough's back, it'll be over for the former champ. We'll take Hicks to win via second round submission.

In other action:

- Bart Palaszewski (30-11) vs. Ricardo Lamas (5-0)

Palaszewski is a former IFL'er, and this looks like a big mismatch on paper before you even get to the height disadvantage. Lamas is a replacement for Richard Crunkilton, who had to pull out this week with a knee injury.

- Jose Aldo (13-1) vs. Chris Mickie (31-11-2)

For the full 11-fight card, here you go.

Josh Nason - josh [at] ropesringandcage [dot com] - has published MMA, wrestling and boxing blog Ropes, Ring and Cage.com since 2007. If you are using any content or recapping from this site, please include a link to www.ropesringandcage.com. Thank you for your support!