Dubuque, Iowa’s Muay Thai sensation Luke Lessei proved that he can grasp with the perfect of them in his ONE Championship debut in opposition to ‘Smokin’ Jo Nattawut in December 2023. Now, simply two months later, he ready for one more veteran check, this time in opposition to fellow American Eddie ‘Silky Easy’ Abasolo at ONE Battle Evening 19.
Although he misplaced the choice to Smokin’ Jo, Luke compelled the Thai into an all-out struggle which was in competition for ONE’s Battle of the 12 months final yr. He practically received, arguably deserving the shut choice and virtually ending Nattawut within the third spherical. After spending his early profession on the American regional Muay Thai scene – which is a far cry faraway from preventing within the legendary Lumpinee Stadium – virtually no person anticipated him to try this properly in opposition to such an enormous step up in competitors.
Though dropping for the primary time as an expert shouldn’t be what he needed, Lessi gained a variety of followers and might nonetheless take encouragement from his efficiency, “[It’s] disappointing in some methods, simply the truth that there’s a one on my report as a loss… However in addition to all that? Every thing’s been nice, I’ve been having a lot love and positivity, gaining followers. Followers which have been round are like, ‘Dude we would have liked to see this struggle from you, we would have liked to see how powerful you have been.’ They bought to see my gangster get examined, so the loyal followers are much more loyal now that they bought to see the dawg in me. And the brand new followers, they’re like, ‘Noticed Luke’s final struggle,’ and now they’re going to look at my subsequent struggle.”
In a method he’s much more pleased with this end result than he would have been with the short knockout victory that almost all fighters need each time they compete, “If that struggle would’ve been a fast knockout I most likely would have much less individuals tuning into this subsequent struggle… [The last fight] was a three-round, absolute banger, Battle of the 12 months contender. I believe it simply makes the story for my profession even higher. I believe it’s meant to occur that method, an actual ‘Rocky’ second for me. I believe an increasing number of persons are going to be hopping on board, desirous to see me win.”
It may be onerous to win over the traditionalist followers of Muay Thai who virtually all the time root for precise Nak Muay from Thailand. When requested about that, Lessei stated, “For years and years [I’ve gotten] feedback, ‘It is advisable to go to Thailand, must go worldwide, I’d wish to see this dude examined in opposition to an actual Thai fighter.’”
Examined Luke Lessei was, and now on the opposite facet of that check the tune has begun to alter, “I really feel like finally individuals understand, ‘He does know what he’s doing.’ And now my first struggle in ONE was in opposition to the Thai, quantity 4 ranked, well-seasoned, game-tested veteran and now everybody shut up as a result of somewhat dude from Iowa went on the market – yeah if you need [you can] be like, ‘He misplaced, he bought beat by the Thai’ – however for those who really know you’re watching and know what you’re speaking about, the pressures that I had on me. I simply stop my job, went to go try this struggle, every part was [set up] for me to get knocked out by him.
“You noticed each different struggle; it was virtually like they’re imagined to – they’ve a 50% knockout charge! They’re making an attempt to arrange knockouts. I wasn’t supposed to try this to Jo. I’m simply this dude from Iowa that’s getting a shot. I wasn’t supposed to try this in opposition to the #4 ranked man on the earth. And I did okay. Some individuals stated I even might have received, and if there was one other spherical? I’d have received. And if it was within the streets? Jo Nattawut could be lifeless, so I believe any followers that assume I’ve to go to Thailand to struggle, us People are simply ready for our alternatives, man.”
When requested in regards to the confidence he can take from going blow for blow with Nattawut for 9 minutes straight, Lessei stated, “That was my gang initiation. And I believe I’m glad I had it occur that method, as a result of I don’t wish to get into my fourth or fifth struggle in ONE and never be examined. Now I really feel like the entire roster, I’m able to struggle all of them. He broke my nostril within the second spherical and I used to be nonetheless in there. I understand how onerous he ****ing hits. I do know I can take a success. Lots of people assume he’s the toughest hitter in the entire division and I stood there and took that **** like a champ. I didn’t get wobbled, you didn’t see me get wobbled, not as soon as. So I consider course that’s going to place my confidence up.
“And one other factor… That is actually private for me: I by no means knew if I used to be actually powerful like that. I’ve simply been doing what my dad stated. Within the fitness center, within the ring, doing sports activities, fight sport. I assumed, ‘Oh I’m good at these strikes, I’m good on the strategies, however can I actually FIGHT like that? Do I actually bought that canine in me?’ And clearly we discovered that out, I discovered that out.
“I didn’t know there was that canine. I bear in mind after the primary spherical I used to be like, ‘Yo I would get knocked the **** out.’ I bear in mind considering that to myself, and I didn’t. So now going in opposition to different individuals, in fact everybody can hit as onerous as Jo within the division – properly I believe I do. I believe I’m prepared for all of them as a result of I wasn’t prepared for Jo’s energy.”
Luke is aware of that being given Jo Nattawut in his first struggle and Eddie Abasolo in his second struggle means that he’s not being protected, like some prospects in fight sports activities. “A part of me needs that since you wish to be a star, you wish to get wins. However then one other a part of me is aware of that that’s sort of a façade. Do you wish to go the ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley method? Or are you want [going] assassin’s row. After I lay down at evening, I take into consideration what I would like, and to actually be fulfilled once I lay down on my loss of life mattress I wish to most likely [have beaten] the perfect guys on the earth. That’s ****ing scary, I’d [almost] quite struggle the simple guys and get the Instagram [likes], however deep inside I do know that’s not what’s going to meet me.
“So, I must name out guys like Eddie, the opposite American who they assume is the perfect. That must be me. I bought to get him out of the way in which first. After which after that we’re going to begin occurring this Thai fighter hitlist. I wish to knock out all of the Thais as a result of in my division it’s ran by Thais: Tawanchai, Superbon, Jo, after which Sitthichai. Its like, ‘Yo, we want an American up in there.’
“I believe going up in opposition to Eddie, it’s a dream come true. I’ve been watching him for a very long time. After I was younger, he was simply coming onto the professional scene. He was {smooth}, he was chill, he was a kind of guys who centered a lot on being that highly effective statue, hitting onerous. Let’s be sincere, I used to be doing this {smooth} **** earlier than he was. I’ve been coaching for 20 years and I’m solely 27. I believe its time that individuals get a solution to, ‘Who’s the one?’ Is it me, or is it Eddie? I believe it’s going to be a struggle the place we discover out who the smoothest mom****er out right here is.”
In his final struggle, the ONE commentary staff labeled Lessei as the perfect American striker on the earth. When requested about it, he made no bones about agreeing with that assertion, “Actually, I believe I’m America’s finest striker. That is nothing to do with wins and losses. If you happen to observe me, you’ll see the data I’ve on my web page, the way in which I break issues down. Yeah, I do know I’m good at strikes, and I do know my type is clear and delightful and it’s somewhat extra elegant…than all people… I do know I’m like high relating to method. After which if you see the issues I discuss, the way in which I break issues down, the attitude I’ve in regards to the sport, the philosophy of ‘you may make it [without] any connections.’
“All of these items are what make me seen as America’s #1. As a result of I’m breaking down every part that I’ve accomplished. I’m supplying you with all of the recipes. I’m not simply posting movies hitting pads… I’m spending time, I’m making a tradition, I’m making a motion, and I’m making an attempt to alter the sport. Not simply successful fights, that’s the very last thing I’m making an attempt to do is win the fights. I’m making an attempt to get BETTER and truly make a distinction with this Muay Thai group. And I believe the individuals who observe me sense that.
“There’s a pair different People: Eddie, Asa Ten Pow, even WBC ranked guys. However we’re in ONE Championship, you gotta win in ONE Championship to be the perfect. As soon as I beat Eddie there can be no extra questions. If you happen to do query it? No matter, I’ll simply maintain beating individuals and it’ll simply take somewhat bit longer for individuals to understand I’m America’s primary. Ultimately, I’m going to be America’s primary and it is going to be a matter of reality. That’s the objective.
“The objective is to be champion, but additionally the objective is [when people think about] American Muay Thai, [they’ll say], ‘Oh, Luke!’ That’s what I would like.”
Though Muay Thai is a much less widespread sport than the likes of MMA and boxing, it has grown in recent times, partially resulting from ONE Championship. The tight-knit group within the sport has actually gotten behind influencer-fighters like Liam Nolan, like Luke Lessei. Luke sees that and appreciates it.
“The followers put you on a pedestal and its ****ing cool. If you happen to really are cool, you’re educating good things, you’re not a fraud, then the Muay Thai followers are most likely the perfect followers that there’s. Actual Muay Thai followers, its simply superior, they’ve a lot respect for you.”
These followers are the explanation Luke was in a position to construct a platform of over 80,000 followers on Instagram in a comparatively area of interest sport, which helped him earn his probability to debut in ONE Championship and struggle Smokin’ Jo. However the motive he bought into the game within the first place was his father. But how did his father get into the game within the first place himself when Muay Thai was a comparatively underground sport in America for thus lengthy?
He began again within the 80s, everybody’s watching Bruce Lee motion pictures, samurai motion pictures, kung-fu motion pictures. That’s initially how he began, together with his buddies. That planted the seed after which he went on this lifelong journey of conventional martial arts. He educated beneath Dan Inosanto, who educated beneath Bruce Lee… After which when he bought into Muay Thai, the man who introduced Muay Thai to America in 1969, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, who was coaching the Dallas Cowboys again in just like the 60’s and coaching the Hell’s Angels. These are my dad’s academics, Bruce Lee lineage.
“He simply went all in, all several types of martial arts: boxing, karate, Muay Thai, preventing with the sticks and weapons. After which he turned a professional fighter, had a pair fights, after which had me and my sister. He created this blueprint, I don’t know what he thought once I was born however he was like, ‘You’re going to be a fighter.’ The remainder is historical past. I turned 4, he bought me within the fitness center, and I’ve been chasing that ever since.”
His chase has led him to Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand, and to a struggle with Eddie Abasolo. Luke’s prediction for the result’s a lot the identical as his final one the place he predicted a struggle or a fast KO, “This could possibly be one other struggle of the yr, however the final struggle was my first struggle in smaller gloves. So, there’s a bit of various power on this struggle. I would take some dangers; I would actually go for a setup or a knockout. It’s onerous to take a threat when the #4 ranked Thai man is making an attempt to knock you out. I used to be nervous. So, it ended up being a back-and-forth.
“I believe I’ve a greater probability at ending Eddie Abasolo. There’s much less nerves, first struggle jitters are out, I’m going to take some extra possibilities… I believe I can get Eddie out of there earlier than the struggle’s over. I believe I could make him look not-so-smooth. He’s going to be laying there, immobile.”
As for which spherical he’ll ship his opponent to the shadow realm? “I’m considering finish of the second, or third… That first spherical is likely to be a whole chess match. The longer the struggle goes, the extra snug, the extra highly effective I get.”
Luke Lessei takes on Eddie Abasolo in ONE Championship’s Muay Thai Featherweight Division at ONE Battle Evening 19 in Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, February 16
The publish Luke Lessei Talks Dad’s Bruce Lee Lineage, “Gang Initiation” Battle of the 12 months with Jo Nattawut appeared first on Cageside Press.