“I'm coming in hot on this one” - Luke Lessei looks to represent American Muay Thai against Frenchman Bampara Kouyate
American Muay Thai fighter Luke Lessei seeks to up the ante in his ONE Championship push in his scheduled showdown against Frenchman Bampara Kouyate this week in Thailand.
'The Chef' is featured in a featherweight Muay Thai clash against Kouyate at ONE Fight Night 23: Ok vs Rasulov on July 5 at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
It will be Luke Lessei's third outing in ONE Championship since debuting back in December and where he wants to further showcase what he is truly capable of in the 'art of eight limbs.'
In an interview with ONE Championship ahead of his return to action, the 28-year-old Dubuque, Iowa native spoke about how he is approaching his match against Kouyate, saying:
"I think I'm gonna come out here and just show that I've been training really hard because I wanna be a superstar. I really want people to think of me when they think of American Muay Thai. So, yeah, I'm coming in hot on this one. I'm coming in to show everything that I've been doing for the last 20 years."
Luke Lessei comes into ONE Fight Night 23 off a split decision win over fellow American fighter Eddie Abasolo last February. The win thrust him inside the top five contenders in the featherweight Muay Thai division currently ruled by champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai.
Meanwhile, looking to push him back is Kouyate, who is fighting with a chip on his shoulder after losing in his promotional debut in October last year.
ONE Fight Night 23 will be available live and for free to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Luke Lessei hopes to compete in ONE Championship's U.S. shows this year
Luke Lessei is eyeing to be part of ONE Championship's scheduled live events in the United States this year, saying it will be a welcome change to compete in his own backyard.
The 'Home of Martial Arts' is set to play the U.S. twice later this year. It will hold ONE 168 in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 6 and then ONE 169 in Atlanta, Georgia, on Nov. 8. The events are in follow-up to the promotion's successful first live U.S. event in May last year.
American Muay Thai fighter Lessei shared in an interview with Sportskeeda MMA that he hopes to be part of at least one, if not both, U.S shows and perform in front of hometown fans.
The Iowa native said:
"I'm down for any card in America, of course. I want to fight [there]. I would love it. It's a long travel from Iowa to Bangkok. I am in the middle of the States, but yeah I'd love to fight in the U.S. as long as there's enough time in between. I'me trying to take every fight that they offer me, you know what I mean?"
But before any U.S. shows for Lessei, he is set to plunge back into action on July 5 at ONE Fight Night 23: Ok vs Rasulov on Prime Video against Frenchman Bampara Kouyate.