Luke Lessei and Bampara Kouyate to Square Off at ONE Fight Night 23 on July 5

Striking fans have even more to shout about ahead of ONE Fight Night 23: Buntan vs. Meksen, with the recent addition of a can’t-miss featherweight Muay Thai battle to the growing card.

Fifth-ranked divisional contender Luke “The Chef” Lessei is set to take on France’s Bampara Kouyate at the Friday, July 5, event inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and chaos is bound to ensue.

Luke Lessei set to face Bampara Kouyate at an anticipated clash

“The Chef” burst onto the scene in a heated showdown with “Smokin” Jo Nattawut at ONE Fight Night 17 last December.

Lessei failed to win out on the judges’ scorecards that evening, but he endeared himself to fans across the globe with his entertaining brand of fighting.

Two months later, he returned to face fellow American striker Eddie “Silky Smooth” Abasolo. This time out, the 28-year-old picked up a close split-decision victory that helped him secure a spot in the top five of the featherweight Muay Thai division.

Lessei will look to continue his ascent against Kouyate in July, but he will have his work cut out for him.

The Frenchman came to the world’s largest martial arts organization with a 33-1 record, and he was considered one of the most respected strikers in Europe.

Unfortunately, he fell short by decision when he collided with Iraq’s Shakir Al-Tekreeti in a 174.5-pound catchweight Muay Thai action at ONE Fight Night 15 last October.

Their clash could set the future for the featherweight division

Kouyate showcased a formidable skill set throughout that encounter, however, and he will be fighting Lessei at his more natural weight when they meet at ONE Fight Night 23, which could spell trouble for the American.

The Thailand-based fighter has been honing his craft at Team Mehdi Zatout in Pattaya, so he’ll have all the tools needed to score an important win in his upcoming outing.

Victory for either man could put the rest of the stacked division on notice, and it comes at a crucial time for the weight bracket.

The ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title will be contested next month at ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga, when Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his throne against #3-ranked “Smokin” Jo Nattawut at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

The division is ever-active, so July will be a perfect time for Lessei and Kouyate to make their respective marks.

ONE Fight Night 23 will be headlined by a battle for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship between Jackie Buntan and Anissa Meksen. Expect more fights to be announced in the coming weeks as the event takes shape.