At SENSHI 33, in front of passionate kickboxing fans, young Dutch fighter Dirrick Binnendijk made his professional debut - and began it impressively. Known by his nickname, “Soldier of God,” he received the unique opportunity to experience the intensity of a Grand Prix tournament in his very first professional appearance. It was the toughest possible baptism by fire - a format that requires not only outstanding physical preparation but also the ability to recover and adapt quickly.

In an interview with Dutch sports media outlet ChampsTalk, he reflected on his participation in the SENSHI tournament, an experience marked by a wave of emotions - from his first professional victory to the defeat that followed later that night at the fight gala in Varna, Bulgaria.

Binnendijk began the evening in a reserve bout for the SENSHI Grand Prix tournament in the –95 kg division. Against his German opponent, Agon Bellaqa, he displayed remarkable composure for a debutant. Instead of allowing his emotions to take over and rushing for an early finish, the Dutch fighter carefully managed the distance, waited for the right moment, and demonstrated the variety of techniques in his fighting arsenal.

“My debut went very well. Nothing to complain about. I kept my distance well, stayed calculated, and punished him when necessary. The opportunity for the high kick opened up, and I landed it nicely,” Binnendijk said after the fight.

In his recent bouts, the young fighter had relied more heavily on his boxing skills, but inside the SENSHI ring, he showed that his arsenal extends far beyond his hands. The high kick and the knockdowns that followed proved that he can be dangerous from different ranges.

“I’ve been boxing more in my last few fights, but I have it all in my arsenal. I think I showed that today. It was a debut with flying colors - and straight into a Grand Prix too. How many fighters can say that?” he added.

However, the convincing victory proved to be only the beginning of the challenge known as the SENSHI Grand Prix. Developments on the fight card presented Binnendijk with the unexpected opportunity to enter the ring for a second time that same evening. Standing across from him was Argentina’s Pablo Molina, with a place in the third-place bout at stake.

The short break between the contests, changes to the schedule, and the tension backstage placed the young Dutch fighter in an entirely different situation. He admitted that he had expected the evening to unfold differently and was forced to adjust his mindset within a very short period before stepping into the ring for a second fight. The last-minute change proved to be a valuable, albeit painful, lesson. Binnendijk remains adamant that a professional fighter must be prepared for every possible scenario - especially in a format where the course of a tournament can change within minutes.

The psychological strain was compounded by the fatigue accumulated during his opening contest. His legs were already heavily taxed, and Molina quickly identified the vulnerability and directed his attacks at them. The Argentine’s precise low kicks gradually restricted Binnendijk’s movement and altered the course of the fight.

Despite the pain and the knockdowns, the Dutch fighter refused to remain on the canvas. Each time, he found the strength to get back to his feet and continue, showing resilience that did not go unnoticed by the crowd.

After the bout, his coach, Mike Polanen, did not hold back his criticism. While he had been pleased with his fighter’s disciplined performance following the opening victory, his tone was considerably stricter after the defeat.

“After the first fight, he was satisfied because everything went well. After the second, though, he gave me a real earful. It felt like my childhood, when my mother would give me a scolding. One thing is clear—we should never lose because of low kicks,” Binnendijk joked.

Behind his sense of humor, however, lies a clear understanding that the second bout exposed areas that require more work in the gym alongside his coaching team. The fighter does not blame the circumstances or diminish his opponent’s achievement. Instead, he accepts the defeat as part of his development and as an opportunity to become a more complete competitor.

“Physically, I feel fine, and mentally, I don’t feel bad either. I gave the fight away, but I’ll analyze my performance and see what I need to improve. I’ve just come off two tournament formats. Next time, I’ll probably have a single fight, which is different—I won’t enter the ring with my legs already worn out,” he commented.

Immediately after the gala, his emotions remained conflicted. On one side was an impressive professional debut and a convincing first victory. On the other was the disappointment of a second fight that did not unfold as he had hoped.

“I still don’t know exactly how to describe the feeling. On the one hand, I had a great debut. On the other, the second fight seemed to ruin the night. So the feeling is somewhere in between. But I’ll work on myself, analyze my mistakes, and come back even stronger,” Binnendijk said firmly.

Although he made his debut far from home and in front of an unfamiliar crowd, the “Soldier of God” did not allow the pressure to overwhelm him. He remained calm throughout the day, confident in his preparation, and did not have to endure a difficult weight cut. For him, this was a sign that, as he gains experience, he is becoming increasingly capable of managing his emotions ahead of major fights.

Binnendijk preferred to keep the most important technical lesson from the evening to himself, avoiding revealing too much to his future opponents about the areas he intends to work on. One thing, however, he stated without hesitation—his first appearance in the SENSHI ring will not be his last.

“I’ll be back at SENSHI—one hundred percent. I’ll do my very best, and everything will be fine,” he promised the fans.

Two fights, one victory, and a first painful lesson in professional combat sports—Dirrick Binnendijk’s debut captured the full unpredictability of the Grand Prix format in a single evening. The “Soldier of God” left the arena without the final result he had hoped for, but he showed character, gained valuable experience, and promised the fans that his next appearance would be even stronger.

Dirrick Binnendijk’s full interview, conducted in Dutch, is available on the ChampsTalk YouTube channel.