When the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok hosts ONE Fight Night 45, the featherweight division steps into a high-stakes laboratory where raw technical variety meets overwhelming physical infrastructure. At the center of the card, American striker Luke "The Chef" Lessei squares off against towering Algerian contender Mohamed Younes "The Eagle" Rabah. For Lessei, the assignment is a critical pivot to regain momentum; for Rabah, it is an opportunity to impose towering dominance in a weight class where length and timing dictate the terms of engagement.
The stylistic interaction hinges on a classic clash of range and volume. Lessei, training out of the Dubuque Martial Arts Group and forged under his father's cornerwork before expanding his camps internationally, carries a reputation for heavy work rates, intricate combination chaining, and relentless pacing. Yet, the Iowa native enters this ring looking to erase the sting of his November 2025 setback against interim champion Nico Carrillo. Having previously shared the canvas with high-caliber operators like Jo Nattawut and holding a promotional record of 2-3, Lessei needs to establish early pocket entries to neutralize his opponent's structural advantages.
That structural advantage belongs entirely to Rabah. Standing 1.88 meters tall and operating out of the Team Mehdi Zatout stable under the guidance of French-Algerian standout Mehdi Zatout, Rabah owns an exceptional reach and a sharp sniper's timing. Discovered and brought to Thailand after building an unblemished 13-0 regional foundation, Rabah announced his arrival on the global stage with a stunning first-round knockout of former world title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex on short notice in December 2023. With a promotional ledger sitting at 2-1—featuring a victory over Eddie Abasolo alongside a turbulent rematch against Fairtex and a no-contest against Shadow Mavinn in July 2025—Rabah relies on distance management, piercing straight weapons, and devastating counter-punches to dismantle oncoming pressure.
Global Broadcast Logistics and Viewing Guide
For fans tuning in across different time zones, ONE Fight Night 45 delivers prime-time placement in North America and an early-morning awakening across Europe and Asia:
- United States & Canada: Stream live and free on Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership on Friday, July 17 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
- France: Broadcast live on RMC Sport 1 starting at 3 a.m. in the night of Friday, July 17 to Saturday, July 18. Digital subscriptions start at 19 euros per month with a one-year commitment, or 25 euros contract-free.
- United Kingdom: Available live on Sky Sports at 2 a.m. BST on Saturday, July 18.
- Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia: Broadcast live on beIN Sports at 2 a.m. CET on Saturday, July 18.
- Global Platforms: Fans in uncovered territories can stream the action via watch.onefc.com, the official ONE Championship YouTube channel, and the promotion's Facebook page.
Tactical Outlook and Decisive Matchup
Lessei's path to victory requires disciplined head movement and aggressive mid-range trapping. If he allows Rabah to dictate the tempo from the outside, the Algerian's length will chew up entry angles. Conversely, Rabah must maintain backward momentum while firing teeps and straight punches to deter Lessei's forward rushes. Expect a high-tension opening frame where both fighters test the boundaries of distance before the bout explodes into a grueling war of attrition.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- RMCsport original
- Bear Frazer original
- actus.sfr.fr original
- rmcsport.bfmtv.com original
- sportingnews.com original
