Each year, SENSHI honors the fighter who has left the strongest mark on the professional arena with its most prestigious individual award — the Helmet of Spartacus. Following the winners Sergej Braun (2021), Atanas Bozhilov (2022), Dragomir Petrov (2023), and Giannis Stoforidis (2024), the prestigious 2025 award was presented to Samo Petje (Slovenia) — the SENSHI European Champion in the −75 kg category.
Speaking exclusively to Boec.bg, the SENSHI European champion shared that the recognition means far more to him than just another trophy. He sees it as confirmation of years of hard work, perseverance, and constant dedication to the sport. Petje emphasizes that his success was not achieved overnight, but is the result of long-term commitment, relentless training, and consistency — especially during the most difficult moments.
The Slovenian fighter’s career saw a major rise at the end of 2024, when he became SENSHI European Champion at −75 kg, despite it being his first bout in that division. Petje explains that adapting to the higher weight class came naturally — he regularly trains with heavier opponents, and his normal body weight is around 72–73 kg. In his home country, he rarely finds opponents in his own division, except for SENSHI European Champion Andrej Kedves.
In 2025, Petje returned to his familiar −70 kg category, recording two convincing victories. Of his two SENSHI bouts during the year, he describes the fight against Christian Baya as the more difficult one — mainly because it was a rematch, and the loss from 2017 had remained unfinished business. His victory over Baya stands out as his favourite win of the year.
Looking ahead to 2026, Samo Petje is confident and focused. He believes the upcoming year will find him in the best shape of his career. His goal is to defend his −75 kg title against Atanas Bozhilov, whom he describes as a true warrior and a worthy challenger. At the same time, Petje makes it clear that he is ready to face any opponent the organization puts in front of him. He also does not rule out fighting for the −70 kg title, even though that could mean facing his friend Kedves. Among his biggest dreams remains participation in a Grand Prix–style tournament — three fights in one night, in the spirit of the legendary Japanese gala events.
Petje also shares that SENSHI has played a huge role in his development, both inside the ring and through its training camps. According to him, the organization provides conditions and a stage that every professional fighter can only dream of.
However, despite all his sporting achievements, the greatest victory of his life in 2025 was not a title, but becoming a father. The birth of his twins, Liana and Liam, he defines as his most important win and his greatest source of motivation.
Asked about his wish for 2026, Samo Petje is brief and clear: to win a [World] SENSHI title — and another one in Japan.
