SENSHI is preparing to bring the curtain down on its 2026 calendar in spectacular fashion, hosting a high-stakes, eight-man heavyweight Grand Prix on Saturday, December 5. The iconic Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria, will serve as the battleground for a monumental evening of combat sports that promises to test the absolute limits of endurance, resilience, and technical prowess among some of the finest strikers in the international martial arts community.
As the flagship combat sports organization closes out another thrilling year of action, fight fans around the globe will be treated to a classic one-night tournament format. To walk away with the prestigious SENSHI 95-plus-kilogram Grand Prix championship title, the eventual winner will need to survive and conquer three distinct, grueling battles over the course of a single evening. The meticulously crafted international fight card is rounded out by four explosive opening-round quarterfinal matchups, two critical reserve bouts designed to keep the tournament moving forward in the face of attrition, and three high-profile Super Fights featuring some of the promotion’s most beloved and decorated stars.
For international audiences unable to make the trip to the coastal city of Varna, the action will be widely accessible. The event is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time, and martial arts enthusiasts across more than 200 markets will be able to catch every strike, clinch, and knockout live and completely free of charge through the global streaming platform DAZN. Tickets for fans wishing to experience the electrifying atmosphere live inside the arena are available through Eventim.
Heavyweight Tournament Features International Field
The cornerstone of the SENSHI 34 event is undoubtedly the eight-man heavyweight tournament, which has drawn an elite and diverse field of international competitors. Each fighter brings a unique style, background, and set of credentials to the ring, setting the stage for a series of unpredictable and hard-hitting encounters.
Among the most intriguing opening-round matchups is the collision between Turkey’s Cihad Kepenek and France’s Farès Baignin. Kepenek steps into the Varna ring armed with a formidable championship pedigree in Muay Thai, bringing a wealth of high-level experience and tactical maturity to the tournament. Across the ring, Baignin will face the monumental task of making an immediate and lasting impact in his promotional debut. Both heavyweights possess the kind of concussive power capable of bringing a contest to a sudden and dramatic halt with a single well-placed strike. However, whoever emerges victorious from this opening clash cannot afford to expend too much energy, as they will need to preserve enough stamina to navigate two additional demanding bouts later in the evening.
In another compelling quarterfinal pairing, Suriname’s imposing Colin George squares off against Albania’s determined Francesco Xhaja. George brings a massive physical presence and terrifying reach to the tournament, factors that have historically troubled even the most seasoned opponents. Xhaja, meanwhile, makes his return to the SENSHI ring with a singular focus on redemption, seeking to bounce back following a hard-fought setback against Nathan Cook in July.
That same Nathan Cook will be locked in battle against Dutch heavyweight Dexter Suisse in a separate opening-round contest. Suisse boasts extensive tournament experience accumulated across various prominent European combat sports promotions, making him a wily and dangerous adversary who understands the pacing required for multi-fight events. On the other side, Cook has already proven during his time with the organization that he possesses a ruthless finishing instinct, a trait that could prove invaluable as he looks to advance past the quarterfinal hurdle.
Rounding out the opening round of the heavyweight tournament is a fascinating clash between Romania’s Vasile Amaritiei and Algeria’s experienced striker Nordine Mahieddine. This matchup brings together two seasoned veterans of the heavyweight division. In a tournament format where cumulative damage and physical recovery play just as significant a role as raw technical ability, the capacity of Amaritiei and Mahieddine to manage their bodies through a grueling evening of combat will be heavily tested.
Three Victories Required to Claim Championship
The mathematical reality of an eight-man, one-night tournament creates a daunting challenge for everyone involved. The four triumphant athletes from the opening-round quarterfinals will advance directly to the semifinal round, which will take place later that same evening. The two survivors of those grueling semifinal bouts will then meet in the championship final. This means that to hoist the grand prize and cement their legacy, the ultimate winner must successfully compete three separate times in one night.
This unforgiving format places a massive premium on efficiency. Fighters who are forced into extended, exhausting wars during the opening round will likely pay a steep price in the later stages of the tournament. Injuries, accumulated fatigue, and the sheer physical toll of absorbing heavyweight strikes can quickly derail a contender’s championship aspirations, making intelligent pacing and swift finishes the ultimate keys to success.
Recognizing the high probability of injuries, cuts, and exhaustion during the opening rounds, the tournament organizers have secured two crucial reserve bouts to ensure the bracket can proceed without interruption if an advancing heavyweight is medically unable to continue. In the first reserve matchup, Azerbaijan’s Surat Garaev squares off against Bulgaria’s own Daniel Dinev. The second reserve bout features Estonia’s Kristjan Ljahh locking horns with the Netherlands’ Sem van der Lans. These alternate competitors will be more than ready to step into the spotlight should an opportunity arise.
Bozhilov, Petrov and Rikov Featured in Super Fights
While the heavyweight Grand Prix anchors the narrative of the evening, the supporting card is stacked with high-level action, highlighted by three exceptional Bulgarian standouts competing under KWU Full Contact rules.
At 75 kilograms, Atanas Bozhilov takes on England’s Bartolomej Horvath. Affectionately known to fans and colleagues alike as "Mr. SENSHI," Bozhilov has built an incredible legacy within the organization. With 25 victories under the SENSHI banner, he stands as one of the most accomplished, technical, and reliable competitors in the promotion’s history, always delivering a masterclass in striking control and ring generalship.
In the 70-kilogram division, Dragomir Petrov faces a familiar and formidable challenge as he meets SENSHI 31 Grand Prix champion Angelo Volpe of Italy. This matchup carries significant personal and professional stakes for Petrov, who enters the ring with a golden opportunity to avenge a previous defeat suffered at the hands of the talented Italian fighter.
Rounding out the Super Fight lineup is undefeated SENSHI competitor Zhulien Rikov, who takes on Brazil’s Petros de Freitas in a 75-kilogram showdown. Rikov captured the imagination of fans earlier in the year by winning the promotion’s 2026 welterweight Grand Prix, and he carries an impressive undefeated streak and seven SENSHI victories into this high-profile international pairing.
SENSHI 34 Fight Card
Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals — 95+ Kilograms
Vasile Amaritiei (Romania) vs. Nordine Mahieddine (Algeria)
Colin George (Suriname) vs. Francesco Xhaja (Albania)
Dexter Suisse (Netherlands) vs. Nathan Cook (England)
Farès Baignin (France) vs. Cihad Kepenek (Turkey)
Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bouts — 95+ Kilograms
Surat Garaev (Azerbaijan) vs. Daniel Dinev (Bulgaria)
Kristjan Ljahh (Estonia) vs. Sem van der Lans (Netherlands)
KWU Full Contact Super Fights
Bartolomej Horvath (England) vs. Atanas Bozhilov (Bulgaria) — 75 kilograms
Angelo Volpe (Italy) vs. Dragomir Petrov (Bulgaria) — 70 kilograms
Petros de Freitas (Brazil) vs. Zhulien Rikov (Bulgaria) — 75 kilograms
Event Information
Event: SENSHI 34 Grand Prix
Date: Saturday, Dec. 5
Venue: Palace of Culture and Sports
Location: Varna, Bulgaria
Start time: 7:30 p.m. local time
Tournament: Eight-man heavyweight Grand Prix
Weight category: 95-plus kilograms
Broadcast: DAZN
Streaming availability: Live and free in more than 200 markets
