July’s Fighter of the Month is currently on a five-fight winning streak spanning over two years. In his last fight, he successfully defended the Reality Fighting Light-Heavyweight title and avenged his first loss. CCFA’s Greg Rebello has had a good summer.

Rebello’s career began at Eclectic Karate, where he trained under Paul Curtain in an attempt to gain cardio. “I was done playing hockey and sick of running on the treadmill at the gym every night staring at a TV. So I joined a class in Bridgewater just for fun. It was actually with Pat Schultz and we started getting pretty good.” Soon enough he had his first fight, a TKO win over Eddie Knuckles. However, his fighting career took a downswing, as he dropped two fights in a row.

Greg then decided that he needed a change in his training regimen. He began splitting time between Sit Yod Tong, USMMA, and CCFA, where he is surrounded by great training partners. “At CCFA I get tons of pad work from [Pat] Schultz and [Mike] Gresh and Scott Rehm is a huge help mentally and spiritually for me.” Since moving, he has won his last five fights, with four ending by TKO. In that time he has captured the Reality Fighting title and defeated Eric Brown, who handed him his first loss.

Greg’s goals are that of most fighters. He hopes to make it to the next level, be it the WEC or UFC, and will not stop until he makes it. As a testament to that, he is expanding his training to become more well-rounded. ”I started as more of a standup fighter, I always loved to mix it up on the feet, but since focusing on wrestling and jiu-jitsu I am really starting to gain a lot of confidence on the ground.” He showed it in his last fight by straying from his usual stand-up and clinch game. He took his opponent down, passed his guard, and pounded him out for the win.

Rebello lists a few of his training partners as his influences, including Kenny Florian, Patrick Cote, Jorge Rivera, and Marcus Davis. However, he lists one man as his biggest MMA inspiration. “My hero is definitely Mike”Loco Lobo” Gresh. I mean the guy pretty much graduated high school with my dad and is still grooving in his Acura into the gym every day and night training his ass off. At 45 I hope I can still walk, never mind train and teach MMA on a daily basis.  He is a huge reason I’m where I’m at today in this sport and can’t thank him enough.”

Greg also wants to thank the people around him. “Gotta thank all my teams and teammates: McDonough, Matthews, Keith and Kenny Florian from Sityodtong, Tommy, Matty and Jorge from USMMA, Pat Schultz, Mike Gresh, and Scotty Rehm from CCFA, my boys from Suckerpunch Athletics and GARY!!!” MassMMA wishes Greg good luck in his next fight.