‘I’m Prepared To Be A Sniper’ – Luke Lessei Sizes Up Mohamed Younes Rabah Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 45
Luke “The Chef” Lessei’s road to the main event has not followed a straight line.
The 30-year-old American has built his latest training camp around fatherhood, travel, and constant movement, but he believes that demanding journey has only sharpened his focus for the dangerous challenge ahead.
On Friday, July 17, Lessei will face “The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah in a featherweight Muay Thai clash at ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video, which airs live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
For the Beacon MMA representative, the assignment is also a reminder that ONE Championship still views him as a major player on the global stage.
Lessei said:
“It just feels good that they want to have me for main event. I feel like they still have faith in me. They still know that I can be the American Muay Thai star.
“I’m 30 years old. I’m in the best shape of my life. I don’t have 100 or 200 fights like a lot of these Thais, so I’m still healthy. I still consider myself new in the game.”
Lessei brings eight career victories and a staggering 75 percent finishing rate into the matchup, but this fight is about more than another highlight-reel moment.
After his most recent outing against eventual ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico “King of the North” Carrillo at ONE Fight Night 37 last November, the Iowa native returned to the gym with a clearer understanding of what separates elite fighters at the highest level.
“The Chef” does not make excuses for his most recent setback. Instead, he views it as a reminder that talent, instinct, and creativity must be matched by a certain type of discipline.
Lessei said:
“Obviously, Nico’s the best fighter in the world right now at my weight. So, there’s really no shame in losing to someone who’s the champion.
“I think I can definitely learn from that and take things more seriously when it comes to refueling. I’m 30 now, that is such an important part of the game. I can’t just rely on my talent and my flow. I have to make sure my body is fully prepared.”
That lesson has come during a season of constant movement.
Between co-parenting his children in Chicago, training with his father in Iowa, and working with head coach Bob Peach in New Jersey, Lessei has had to build his camp across multiple cities and responsibilities. Add divorce, relocation, and the demands of preparing for another main event, and “The Chef” knows life rarely gives him a clean runway toward competition.
But rather than separating family from fighting, he has learned to carry both into the same mission.
He explained:
“My kids come to the gym with me now all the time. They come to the track with me when I’m working out. That doesn’t even enter my consciousness anymore because no matter what my circumstances are, I’ve learned over the past two to three years, divorce, moving, all these different things, I can’t wait for my life to calm down just for me to have the perfect training camp.”
Lessei Braces For ‘Falcon Vs. Eagle’ Showdown
Standing across from Luke Lessei will be one of the most dangerous physical threats in the division.
Mohamed Younes Rabah, a 29-year-old hard-hitting Algerian from Team Mehdi Zatout, brings a near-flawless 15-1 (1 NC) record into his third featherweight appearance. Tall, aggressive, and ultra powerful, “The Eagle” has the tools to turn any exchange into a fight-changing moment in an instant.
Lessei offered:
“I just know that he’s going to throw heat. He’s going to be aggressive. It’s probably not going to be a slow fight, and that’s what I’m preparing for.
“I’ve been having my lungs burning every day of the week. I’m prepared to go into deep waters. I’m prepared to be a sniper against his aggression. I have a solid game plan for this fight.”
The matchup has also given the American star a striking image to carry into battle.
Rabah’s nickname is “The Eagle,” and Lessei recently got a falcon tattoo. To him, the symbolism fits the fight perfectly. The Algerian brings force and size, while the Midwestern sensation believes his path to victory lies in timing, accuracy, and full commitment to his attacks.
He said:
“I’ve been preparing a lot for the power of ‘The Eagle.’ I just got a sick falcon tattoo. Eagle versus falcon, precision versus strength.”
Stylistically, Lessei respects Rabah’s skills. He expects a fast start, heavy strikes, spinning attacks, calf kicks, and a forward-moving approach that can make any opponent uncomfortable.
But the American also believes he owns the wider arsenal, and he has already proven in battles with “Smokin” Jo Nattawut and Bampara “Bambi” Kouyate that he can survive chaos and answer back.
If anything, the bout with Carrillo taught him not to become one-track minded when one weapon starts working. This time, he wants to stay sharp, patient, and ready for every range.
He said:
“I think he’s just always ready to bang. He’s tough, he’s got that hard, almost European-like forward style. A lot of times, he’s able to throw spins out of nowhere. I know he’s got some good calf kicks.
“I’ve watched him a lot. My coaches have been studying him, and I think I have more variety, I’m more diverse.”
