Simeon Nakovski will make his SENSHI debut at SENSHI 33 Grand Prix on September 5 in Varna, Bulgaria, where he will compete in a Super Fight in the 70 kg division in front of his home crowd. The reigning 2026 WKN European K-1 Champion and 12-time Bulgarian Kickboxing Champion sees the opportunity to compete in the international promotion as both a great honor and a serious responsibility.
The Bulgarian fighter will step onto the beach arena with confidence built through a series of prestigious achievements. Just a few months after winning the European title, he received another significant international recognition, climbing to ninth place in the BoxRec world rankings in the super featherweight division up to 65 kg. In an exclusive interview with Gong.bg, Nakovski admitted that the achievement has motivated him even further. He views his place in the world’s top 10 as recognition not only of his many years of hard work but also of the efforts of his entire team.
However, his debut at SENSHI 33 will be more than just another step in Simeon Nakovski’s fighting career. He will face a high-level opponent, and the Bulgarian is adamant that he is not underestimating the challenge. Rather than chasing a knockout at all costs, he wants it to be the natural result of a well-executed game plan. Read on to find out what else Nakovski shared and how his preparation for the upcoming fight is progressing.
You are about to make your SENSHI debut. What does the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious promotion mean to you?
Yes, I’m about to make my SENSHI debut. It is a tremendous honor and a great responsibility for me to compete in such a strong and major organization featuring truly world-class fighters. My goal is to perform at the highest level and make the fans in attendance happy, as well as the organizers. That is my top priority.
You will be fighting in front of your home crowd in Varna, Bulgaria. Does that give you additional motivation, or does it create more pressure?
I would say that it probably creates a little more pressure than usual because my friends will be watching me and will be there in person. The pressure to live up to their expectations can sometimes make me tense. It can be a double-edged sword.
However, I am experienced enough to use that pressure as additional motivation in the arena. To a certain extent, I am already used to dealing with that pressure and carrying that weight, so to speak.
How is your preparation for SENSHI 33 progressing? Which aspects of your game are you focusing on the most during training camp?
Thank God, the preparation has been going perfectly so far. There are no injuries, and everything is going according to plan. I can say that I am training at more than 100 percent. I hope the training process continues this way until September 5, and I am confident that I will be able to show the best version of myself on the night.
What do you know about your opponent, and how do you assess his style? Do you think the fight will require more tactics or more aggression?
I rate my opponent very highly. After all, we all know there are no random fighters in SENSHI. I am not underestimating him—he is a very good fighter, and that assessment also shapes my game plan. Tactics will be crucial.
I know that I have a truly difficult fight ahead of me, one that will require a high level of concentration, but I hope the final result will be in my favor.
In May, you became the WKN European K-1 Champion. How did that achievement affect your confidence and sense of responsibility as a fighter?
I don’t think that success changed my confidence. Yes, it gave me a slight shift in my mindset and in the way I train, but ultimately, I am still the same person I was before becoming European champion. I continue to train just as hard and keep striving for the next victory.
You then entered the top 10 of the BoxRec world rankings. What does this recognition mean to you, and how much does it motivate you to pursue even greater goals?
Yes, it motivates me tremendously because it is genuine recognition of the work I put in every day. It acknowledges all the years I have dedicated to the sport—years of incredibly hard work in the gym. It is also a great acknowledgment of the work done by my team.
For me, it is a major honor and recognition to be ranked ninth in the world in this division as a Bulgarian fighter.
SENSHI fans expect spectacular fights. What can they expect from you on September 5, and is there a chance that we will see a knockout?
The fans can definitely expect a spectacle in the ring. That is 100 percent guaranteed from my side.
As for the knockout, I never enter a fight focused solely on knocking out my opponent. I step into the ring to execute what I have trained and put into practice the game plan my team and I have prepared. A knockout comes naturally. If I sense that the right moment has arrived, I will certainly push my opponent until the end, and I hope I can knock him out.
What are your goals after SENSHI 33? Do you see this debut as the beginning of a longer journey with the organization or as a step toward other major challenges?
For me, competing at SENSHI is already a major recognition, and I am genuinely happy to be part of the event. I am not looking for recognition from other organizations.
I hope the fans and the organizers are pleased with my performance. If they are interested in having me back, I would be delighted to fight at another SENSHI event.
