‘I’m A Top Contender’ — Luke Lessei Reasserts ONE World Title Credentials After Rebound Win Over Mohamed Younes Rabah
Luke “The Chef” Lessei has always been at his most dangerous when the doubters are loudest, and ONE Fight Night 45 was the most emphatic evidence yet.
Hungry to respond after a recent setback, the Iowa native delivered a commanding unanimous decision over “The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah in the featherweight Muay Thai main event, which aired live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17.
Lessei’s striking has always been a genuinely captivating blend of surgical precision and explosive flair, but consistency has sometimes been the missing ingredient.
The painful TKO defeat to now-ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico “King of the North” Carrillo last November raised uncomfortable questions about his place among the division’s elite.
Against Rabah, a sharper, more deliberate Lessei stepped into the ring, looking every bit like a fighter reborn. Behind that renewed composure lay the defining trait of a warrior who never buckles when his back is against the wall.
“The Chef” said:
“It felt great. I’m always happy to get a win. Fun fact, I’ve actually never lost two fights in a row. So I got that streak alive coming off a loss against a champion and a win against a top contender like Younes, who’s one of my friends.”
The opening round did not unfold as Lessei had envisioned, with Rabah finding his range quickly and seizing the advantage with clean, punishing combinations.
Sensing the momentum shifting, the 30-year-old tactician absorbed a crucial corner adjustment that changed the course of the fight entirely.
He said:
“My coach started telling me to trust my boxing and double up my hands a little bit more. I started to find my range with the jab, and it just brought me more confidence.
“I realized that the long straight shots were going to win me the rest of that fight, so I was just trusting in my actual reach, trusting in my coach.”
Lessei took full control as the fight progressed, his shots landing with greater frequency and force. A thunderous hook in the final stanza rocked Rabah badly, briefly buckling the Algerian’s knees before his toughness kept him upright.
Although all three judges awarded him the nod, Lessei’s exacting nature craves something far more emphatic. The cerebral finisher wanted something more decisive, and he is already thinking about how to close that gap.
He said:
“There was one shot in the third round — a big hook, and my coach tells me like it should have been an eight-count. I wish I had gotten that eight-count. I could have smelled blood and went for the kill, chasing the 50K bonus.
“But it is what it is. I’m happy with the shots that I landed. I can always improve. I can always do better, and I think I could push the pace even more.”
Lessei Eyes Gold And Revenge, Open To Kickboxing Challenge
Luke Lessei’s win over Mohamed Younes Rabah means far more than a return to form, thrusting him firmly back into featherweight contention.
Looking ahead, three names stand out. A rematch with Nico Carrillo tops the list, while Bampara Kouyate, who handed him a buzzer-beater knockout, remains unforgotten. The American striker also remains deeply intrigued by a potential showdown with Thai standout Shadow Mavinn.
Lessei’s desire to test his mettle against the division’s best burns so deeply that he would gladly do so under kickboxing rules if need be:
“I just heard [Shadow] has a broken jaw right now, so I’m not sure how soon he’ll be back, but all three of the names — Bambi, Nico, Shadow, whoever.
“I’ve always been interested in putting the big gloves back on, doing kickboxing, since there’s no big-glove Muay Thai. But, yeah, I love banging in whatever style it is for striking.”
With reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai sidelined through injury, the division is ripe with opportunity — and Lessei has every intention of seizing it.
For now, “The Chef” is savoring Friday night’s result. The 26 pounds of gold remain the ultimate destination, and every performance is another step toward it.
He concluded:
“A chance to fight for the belt is always at the top of the list, so I can’t really decide. I’m just down to fight whoever. I just love fighting for ONE. I love performing for my fans.
“I want to make sure I enjoy my win, and I focus on being present, but I think I’m a top contender. I want to keep reminding people with good performances.”
