Luke Lessei eyes rematch with Bampara Kouyate if he gets past Nico Carrillo: "Still almost had him"

Luke Lessei isn't just focused on the dangerous challenge directly in front of him – he's already mapping out his path back to redemption.

The American Muay Thai maestro faces No.4-ranked contender Nico Carrillo in a featherweight Muay Thai battle at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, Nov. 7.

In a pre-fight interview with ONE Championship, 'The Chef' opened up about what a victory over 'King of the North' would prove and which opponent he's eager to run it back with if he emerges victorious.

"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," Luke Lessei told the promotion.

"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," he continued.

For 'The Chef', his previous loss to Bampara Kouyate remains unfinished business that he believes came down to tactical mistakes rather than a skill deficit.

Luke Lessei and Kouyate crossed paths at ONE Fight Night 23 in July last year. Though the American stand-up specialist started the better of the two, the French-Mali dynamo ended the contest with a highlight-reel moment late in Round 3.

Lessei has been determined to get revenge on the Team Mehdi Zatout star since, and a victory over Carrillo could certainly help him in his bid to gain a sequel against the man who handed him his second promotional defeat.

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Luke Lessei says he's a more complete fighter heading into ONE Fight Night 37 war

Luke Lessei believes his variety of weapons would serve as a trump card against Nico Carrillo when they trade leather inside the Mecca of Muay Thai this Friday.

In the same interview with the organization, the Dubuque Martial Arts Group athlete listed all the advantages he'll have over 'King of the North' in their featherweight Muay Thai scrap in Bangkok.

"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," the 29-year-old told ONE.

Active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North America can catch all the action from ONE Fight Night 37 live and for free in U.S. primetime this Friday, Nov. 7.