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Family always comes first for American striking sensation Luke Lessei. With that in mind, it's not surprising that 'The Chef' will use his well-earned performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong to spoil his loved ones.
Lessei and new interim atomweight MMA world champion Denice Zamboanga each received $50,000 bonuses at ONE Fight Night 27 on Jan. 10, following their impressive performances.
The Dubuque, Iowa native showcased just how lethal he can be by dropping Cody Jerome thrice with wicked body shots, en route to a first-round TKO win.
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Speaking during the ONE Fight Night 27 post-event press conference, a grateful Lessei says the extra money will go a long way for his two kids:
"I don't even know. I've never seen that much money in my life before. Yeah, I got two kids back home in Iowa, so it's gonna put a lot of food on their table, you know. And my daughter's birthday is next month, so I'm definitely gonna give her a good birthday, yeah, but shout out Vivian, shout out Bear."
The full replay of ONE Fight Night 27 is available free on demand for Prime Video subscribers in North America.
Luke Lessei eager to make a run for the featherweight Muay Thai belt in 2025
It's been a wild roller coaster ride for Luke Lessei since joining the home of martial arts in 2023.
So far, 'The Chef' has split his first four appearances under the ONE banner, with his two setbacks coming against ranked foes 'Smokin' Jo Nattawut and Bampara Kouyate.
After getting back on track against Jerome, the 28-year-old hopes to build enough momentum and string a few more wins together to make a run for the featherweight MMA world title, currently held by the prolific Tawanchai PK Saenchai.
Luke Lessei told ONE:
"I keep saying this, I'll fight anyone in the division. I just want to keep moving up in the ranks. Of course, the belt is at the end of anybody's vision. That's the standard, right? I want to be a champion."
