__________________ "Happiness is a lie. Life is horror. The light is always dying all across the universe. The last star will flicker out someday, when it does, all that remains is shadow. And I will be its king!"'-Amahl Farouk
Was there any indication that Luke was holding back against Desann? I know that he should have been, but I don't recall that even being implied. If anything, it seems that scene was done specifically to make Desann look more threatening, thus making Kyle look good when he beats him.
Frankly, I don't see Malgus doing better than Desann against that version of Luke. Desann actually managed to escape Luke.