“More Pressure Is on Him” – Luke Lessei Says Jo Nattawut Carries the Burden of Being a “Gatekeeper”

American Muay Thai sensation Luke “The Chef” Lessei knows that fans have high expectations for his much-anticipated ONE debut.

This Friday, December 8 in U.S. Primetime, the 27-year-old knockout artist will look to live up to those expectations when he takes on hard-hitting Thai veteran “Smokin” Jo Nattawut in a featherweight contest at ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs. Roberts on Prime Video.

Luke ‘ The Chef’ Lessei is all set to take on Jo Nattawut

Slated to go down at the world-renowned Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, that matchup pits the new school of Muay Thai superstars – Lessei – against the old guard – Nattawut.

“The Chef” says he’s putting plenty of pressure on himself, fully confident in his abilities to take out the legendary puncher. But he also admits that, given his foe’s prodigious accomplishments over the course of his 83-fight professional career, he’s likely the underdog.

The Iowa native explained:

“If I’m thinking about it in my own head, I have more pressure just because I’m putting it on myself. This is just my own thoughts. I’m like, ‘All the pressure is on me. I have to win my first fight in ONE.’ 

“But I really have nothing to lose. A lot of people maybe don’t even know who I am. I’m just this [foreign] kid from Iowa who’s coming to fight Jo Nattawut. I think people might consider that an upset if I win – when I win.”

Lessei feels Nattawut will be under more pressure

Indeed, as the promotional newcomer making his first appearance on the global stage, Lessei understands that many fans expect him to lose at ONE Fight Night 17.

Those expectations, though, create a great deal of pressure on “Smokin” Jo – a veteran of 10 thrilling fights in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

For that reason, Lessei says that Nattawut will be the athlete with more pressure – and nerves – on December 8:

“He has more pressure on him because he has to be, for lack of a better term, a gatekeeper. He can’t let this young [American] boy, new generation, come in and take what he’s been doing here for how long.

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“So I think overall, more pressure is on him, but in my mind, all the pressure is on me because it’s the biggest fight of my life so far.”