LINCOLN, R.I. (Sept. 8, 2011) –* Cody Lightfoot* doesn’t plan on turning his first trip to Rhode Island into an extended stay when he faces *Greg Rebello* at Twin River.
“I want to go in there and hurt him and put him out quick,” Lightfoot said Thursday at the weigh-in for his *Friday, Sept. 9, 2011* showdown against Rebello in the main event of “Road To Glory” at the Twin River Event Center, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports.
“I went to get in and out of there. I just want to do business. I’m going in there to finish the fight. That’s what I’m planning for. I don’t want a decision. I want to finish him.”
Rebello (12-3, 6 KOs), a Providence, R.I., native, admitted he’s not “big into predictions,” but gave Lightfoot a stern, yet subtle, warning: “I know what I need to do.”
For Lightfoot (6-1, 4 KOs), a Somersworth, N.H., native, Friday’s main event will be his toughest test to date; Rebello (12-3, 6 KOs) won 11 consecutive bouts between 2005 and 2010 before losing to *Dan Cramer* at the Bellator Fighting Championships in April. Lightfoot hopes to one day follow in Rebello’s footsteps, perhaps using Friday’s main event to launch his career.
“This is a big fight for me,” said Lightfoot, a former college wrestling standout at Norwich University in Vermont. “He’s a tough dude. This is my chance to get out of the whole casino thing and maybe move onto Bellator or something. That’d be nice.”
Having been down that road before, Rebello is simply looking to get back on track following his loss to Cramer. Rebello dropped down to middleweight for that bout (185 pounds), but is now fighting at a more comfortable weight of 205, which he hit easily Thursday, tipping the scales at 204 pounds.
“This was pretty easy. I didn’t have to cut any weight,” Rebello said. “I pretty much stepped on the scale and everything was fine. Preparing for a wrestler is something I’m used to. I’ve fought and trained with better wrestlers than him. Camp went well. It was like clockwork as usual. I’m ready to go.
“Not having to cut weight would make it easier for anybody. I’m not the biggest 205, but I’m not a small 205 either. This is my game. Look at some of the guys who cut all that weight. The water comes out of your organs – it’s coming out of everything. It screws with your head. You can’t sleep at night. It’s a tough thing to deal with.”
Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight *Todd Chattelle* (8-6, 7 KOs) – one of two new additions to the CES roster – will star in the co-feature against *Elias Rivera* (5-6, 1 KO), who founded the Team Dog Pound Full Contact Team gym in Meriden, Conn., and has more than 30 years of experience in mixed martial arts. This will be Chattelle’s third fight for CES, but his first as an official member of the roster as he aims for his third consecutive win.
The “Road To Glory” undercard also features a marquee showdown between two of the hardest hitters in mixed martial arts as middleweight *Steve Skrzat*(4-4, 4 KOs) of Burrillville, R.I., faces the dangerous *Scott Rehm* (5-5, 5 KOs) of Brookline, Mass. The two fighters have combined to win all nine of their fights by knockout; both are also in search of their first victory since 2010.
Lightweight *John Ortolani* (5-2, 4 KOs) of Billerica, Mass., a professional lacrosse player for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse, will face *Mike Medrano* (9-8) of Toms River, N.J.
In the welterweight (170-pound) division, *James “The American Outlaw” Boran * (5-0, 1 KO) of Framingham, Mass., will put his undefeated record on the line against veteran *Eric Henry* (10-6, 3 KOs) of Ithica, N.Y.
Lightweight *Dinis Paiva Jr.* (1-0, 1 KO) of East Providence, R.I., will face unbeaten *Jimmy Collins* (3-0) of Waltham, Mass.; and *Wilfredo Santiago Jr.* (2-1, 2 KOs) of Lawrence, Mass., will face middleweight *Francisco Ferreira* (2-0) of Pawtucket.
The undercard also features the professional debuts of Central Falls, R.I., middleweight *David Versailles*, Framingham flyweight *Chris Conception* and lightweight *John DeRusha* of South Shore Sport Fighting in Rockland, Mass. DeRusha will face *Brendan Rooney* (1-0) of Milford, Conn.; Conception will battle *Chris Cole* (2-1) of America’s Best Defense in North Attleboro, Mass.; and Versailles will fight *Fran Collins* (1-0) of Worcester, Mass.
Tickets for “Road To Glory” are $35.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at *www.cesmma.com*or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
*(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Road To Glory.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)*
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