‘I Have A Little Bit More’– Luke Lessei Confident He Can Outstrike Nico Carrillo At ONE Fight Night 37
The American promises to display heart and elite skill against his Scottish counterpart on November 7 in Bangkok.
By Vijay Kumar
Oct 31, 2025, 22:16 UTC
American Muay Thai sensation Luke “The Chef” Lessei is never intimidated by any man who stands in front of him, no matter the threat.
When the 29-year-old steps back inside the ONE Championship ring in the co-main event at ONE Fight Night 37: Kryklia vs. Agdeve on Prime Video in Bangkok, Lessei will face his biggest test yet in Scottish knockout artist Nico “King of the North” Carrillo.
“The Chef” is confident he can outstrike his dangerous adversary when the two meet on Friday, November 7, live in U.S. primetime.
For the 6-foot-2 Lessei, this matchup with the #4-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender is a very important step in his quest for glory in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
After demolishing Canadian star Cody Jerome via first-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 27 in January, the Iowa-based striker patiently awaited his next assignment. Following a direct conversation with ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong himself, Lessei got himself a fight.
Speaking to onefc.com ahead of his featherweight Muay Thai showdown with Carrillo, Lessei revealed how the bout came together:
“What happened was like, my last fight was January. I was trying to get a fight staying in the gym, that whole thing. And then I had ended up in direct contact with Chatri. And then he was like, ‘dude, you want to fight?’ Like and I’m like, ASAP. And then he said, ‘All right, you can fight Nico.’ And I was like, ‘Say less, I will.'”
This highly anticipated matchup pits two of the division’s most explosive strikers against each other in what promises to be an absolute barnburner.
Carrillo brings a fearsome reputation to the ring, built on four consecutive victories over Thai icons at bantamweight, including wins over former bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O Hama, “Elbow Zombie” Muangthai PK Saenchai, and Saemapetch Fairtex.
But after suffering his first loss in ONE against Nabil Anane at ONE 170, Carrillo made the decision to move up to featherweight. Shortly after, he immediately made a statement by knocking out striking great Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong.
“King of the North’s” devastating power has led many to question whether or not Lessei can withstand the Scottish striker’s heavy handed approach. But “The Chef” has faced powerful opponents throughout his career, and he’s not in the least bit concerned about Carrillo’s knockout ability.
The American striker said:
“I mean, if you are in ONE Championship and you don’t have power, that would be pretty weird. So, obviously, he has power, he hits hard. I mean that’s pretty much the standard for being a professional fighter.
“I’m just trying to focus on my training, really. Since I came out here, dude, I only focus on what I’m doing.”
Instead of worrying about what Carrillo brings to the table, Lessei is confident in his own distinct advantages, particularly his physical dimensions and striking versatility that could pose significant problems for the Scottish brawler.
“The Chef” explained:
“Obviously my physical reach. My reach and then I would just say, my versatility, my variety of strikes. I definitely feel comfortable throwing all eight limbs – not to say that he isn’t, but I just feel like I have a little bit more of a variety within my strikes.”
Lessei’s Improved Strength Program Key To Featherweight Success
Luke Lessei’s journey to ONE stardom hasn’t been without obstacles, but each setback has led to evolution.
Since making his promotional debut in December 2023 against “Smokin'” Jo Nattawut — a razor-thin decision loss that nonetheless made him an instant fan favorite — Lessei has experienced the full spectrum of emotions inside the ring.
A close victory over Eddie Abasolo at ONE Fight Night 19 was followed by a heartbreaking TKO loss to Bampara Kouyate in the final minute of their bout at ONE Fight Night 23.
But Lessei bounced back in emphatic fashion with his aforementioned victory over Jerome to prove he belongs among the division’s elite.
When asked about the significance of facing Carrillo, Lessei didn’t hold back in his assessment of what this fight represents.
The American star declared:
“Yeah, I mean, on paper, I say it’s the biggest, for sure. This win will put me, obviously, up in the ranks, but it’ll do something more for my name.”
Rather than offering a specific prediction for how the fight will end, Lessei is focused on showcasing the skills and improvements that have defined his recent training camp. For the lanky American, the process and performance matter just as much as the result.
When pressed about how he sees the fight playing out, Lessei remained true to his philosophy.
He said:
“I think this fight ends with people going, ‘He’s one of the most skilled strikers of our generation.’ That’s what I’m thinking.”
With a victory over Carrillo, Lessei would firmly establish himself among the featherweight Muay Thai elite and position himself for even bigger opportunities.
But he’s also eyeing potential rematches, particularly with Kouyate, whose late knockout still stings.
The Iowa striker said:
“I want that Bambi [Kouyate] fight back for sure. Still almost had him. So I definitely want that one back, because I was just walking forward like a madman. Now, obviously, I have more experience with the small gloves.”
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Everything else you need to know about ONE Fight Night 37: Kryklia vs. Agdeve.
