On February 28 at 7:00 PM, the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna will once again become the epicenter of combat sports with the юбилейното edition SENSHI 30. The international fighting promotion will mark the occasion with a historic milestone — the first-ever Grand Prix tournament in the -75 kg division, which will crown the inaugural SENSHI champion in this weight class. Twelve elite fighters from 13 countries — Japan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, DR Congo, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia, Moldova, Albania, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria — will compete for the title. The format is uncompromising: full-contact rules, direct eliminations, and three consecutive fights in a single evening. Only one fighter will endure to the end and write his name in history as the organization’s first Grand Prix champion. In addition to the high-stakes tournament, SENSHI 30 will also feature three spectacular KWU FULL CONTACT super fights, further raising the adrenaline inside the arena.
Among the most intriguing participants in the Grand Prix bouts is Christian “Bad News” Baya from the Democratic Republic of Congo — an experienced and charismatic fighter with an impressive résumé, including runner-up at the SHOOTBOXING Super Lightweight Tournament 2015, winner of the KOK World Grand Prix 2014, and Suthaibo World Champion 2014. Known to fans from his appearance at SENSHI 26, where he showed class and potential despite the loss, Baya returns with even greater ambition. Boec.bg spoke with Baya to find out whether he is ready to become a champion. At 34 years old and with 18 years of experience in martial arts, he defines his motivation simply — the opportunity to face the strongest opponents. Inspired since childhood by heroes from fighting movies and anime, he now sees fighters as the real-life heroes of the arena.
SENSHI 26 F #1: Christian Baya (DRC) vs Samo Petje (Slovenia)
His preparation follows a strict rhythm — twice-daily training sessions, technical drills, pad work, and endurance running. For mental resilience, he relies on discipline, positive affirmations, and visualizing victory. According to him, the biggest challenge of the tournament format is the risk of injuries, yet his approach remains calm — not to overthink the pressure and to go with the flow of the fights. Baya expects extremely dangerous competition in the -75 kg division, where every opponent is capable of producing an upset.
Outside the ring, Christian finds balance in music and time with his family, admitting that discipline — not motivation — carries him through difficult periods. He makes no specific predictions about the future but is confident he is on the right path. On the eve of SENSHI 30, he is calm, focused, and ready to showcase technical mastery and a spectacular style. His message to his opponents is short and clear: “Show me how strong you are.” And to the fans — a promise of intensity, emotion, and a true fighting spectacle worthy of the historic Grand Prix tournament.
