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 landmark SENSHI 30 event. The international fight series will mark the occasion with a historic milestone — the first-ever Grand Prix tournament in the up to 75 kg category, which will crown the inaugural SENSHI champion in this division.
Twelve elite fighters from 13 countries — Japan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria — will enter the race for the Grand Prix title. The format is uncompromising: full-contact rules, direct eliminations, and three consecutive fights in one night. Only one athlete will endure the entire journey and write his name into the organization’s history.
SENSHI 29: Fight 1 Zhulien Rikov (Bulgaria) defeated Marius Cimpoieru (Romania) via UD
One of the competitors drawing particular attention is Bulgaria’s own Zhulien Rikov. Just 19 years old, he already boasts two wins in SENSHI and an impressive résumé — two-time World Cup Champion, two-time European Cup Champion, and eight-time Bulgarian National Champion. Speaking to Boec.bg ahead of the tournament, Rikov said he feels fully healthy and in excellent shape, with preparation that included a crucial phase at a special training camp led by legends Albert “The Hurricane” Kraus and Andy “The Destroyer” Souwer. According to him, the camp placed strong emphasis on the specific demands of the tournament format, while sparring with diverse, high-level opponents proved invaluable.
Rikov clearly understands the difference between a standard bout and a Grand Prix tournament. He describes it as the difference between a sprint and a marathon — in a single fight you can give everything, even at the risk of injury, but in a tournament you must win smart, control the pace, and preserve yourself for the next battles. That is why his preparation includes simulations of tournament conditions — several consecutive “training fights” with short active recovery periods in between.
His first oponent will be Gasham Mammadov of Azerbaijan — a fighter with a classic amateur kickboxing style, carefully studied by Rikov and his team. For Rikov, however, there are no preferred or avoided opponents — his goal is clear: to beat the best and prove himself at the highest level.
He openly acknowledges that his relative lack of experience compared to some rivals may be his biggest disadvantage, but he believes it is offset by hard work, confidence, and thorough preparation. For Rikov, the Grand Prix tournament is the biggest challenge of his life so far — and an opportunity he has no intention of wasting.
In closing, the young fighter emphasized that SENSHI is developing rapidly and establishing itself as a leading combat sports organization, investing in fighters through training camps and world-class gala events. He called on fans to come to Varna and support the event, noting that Bulgaria has never hosted a Grand Prix tournament of this kind before. His promise is clear — on February 28, the audience will witness something truly unforgettable.
