Lessei Defeats Rabah And Says He Is Ready For The Title

Luke Lessei is back in the win column and already setting his sights on the featherweight Muay Thai throne.

The American star delivered a measured performance against Mohamed Younes Rabah in the main event of ONE Fight Night 45 this weekend, outworking his opponent across all three rounds to claim a unanimous decision victory in a hard-fought featherweight Muay Thai contest.

Rabah pushed Lessei throughout the bout, ensuring the American had to earn every point across a three-round battle that went the distance. But Lessei's output and work rate proved the difference when the judges' scorecards were tallied.

"It felt great, I'm always happy to get a win. 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. It feels great," he said about his victory.

The victory over Rabah carries significant weight in the context of the featherweight Muay Thai rankings. Lessei is under no illusions about where he stands in the divisional picture, and he wants his performances to do the talking as he builds his case for a shot at the top.

"I think I'm a top contender. I want to keep reminding people with good performances, whether that's one, two more fights, or if they want me to rematch Nico [Carrillo], it doesn't really matter," he explained.

The mention of ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico Carrillo adds an intriguing dimension to Lessei's title aspirations.

With the featherweight Muay Thai landscape shifting and contenders staking their claims, the American believes he is operating at a level that puts him firmly in the championship conversation.

"I think I would be one, two fights away from the title — one or two good performances. But because of the landscape of the division, I think I'm ready for whatever comes my way," he added.