On September 13, 2025 the sands of Sts. Constantine and Helena Resort in Varna, Bulgaria, will transform into a battlefield for history in the making — the SENSHI 28 Grand Prix. For the very first time, SENSHI will stage an international 8-man tournament in the heavyweight division, the most unforgiving format in combat sports, testing fighters’ endurance, strength, and mental focus to the limit.
The SENSHI Grand Prix: 8 Gladiators, 3 Rounds, 1 Champion
The event will feature eight main contenders and two reserves, battling their way through quarterfinals, semifinals, and the ultimate final showdown. By the end of the night, only one man will stand tall as the inaugural SENSHI Grand Prix Champion.
The 8-man Grand Prix is a brutal trial by fire. The format allows no mistakes, no second chances — only the strongest prevail. Unlike standard professional matches, where fighters face a single opponent, the Grand Prix pushes athletes into multiple grueling clashes in a single night, demanding superhuman resilience. Only one can conquer them all.
This format carries legendary heritage. Its most famous incarnation was the K-1 World Grand Prix, first held in Tokyo in 1993, a creation of Kazuyoshi Ishii. That inaugural event featured icons like Ernesto Hoost and Branko Cikatić, with Cikatić making history as the first-ever Grand Prix champion.
Hoost later cemented his legacy, winning the K-1 World Grand Prix a record four times. On September 13, the Dutch legend himself will step into the SENSHI arena, this time as a referee, alongside another towering figure — Semmy Schilt, also a four-time K-1 Grand Prix champion and the only fighter to ever claim three consecutive titles in the format.
For more than two decades, the Grand Prix has stood as the ultimate crucible for fighters, transforming into an institution in martial arts. It demands not only raw power and technical brilliance but also iron stamina, focus, and tactical mastery to endure several punishing bouts in a single evening. SENSHI 28 now revives this tradition for a new generation of fans. Tickets for this historic night are available at Eventim.bg.
But the Grand Prix isn’t the only highlight. The card will also feature three professional bouts under the rules of KWU FULL CONTACT and KWU OPEN. Bulgarian fans will rally behind homegrown heroes Dragomir Petrov, Konstantin Stoykov, and Valeri Atanasov, as they face top-tier international opponents under the bright lights of SENSHI.
SENSHI 28 Grand Prix is organized with the support of the KWU International Professional League, as well as the special partnership of Armeec Insurance, MAX Sport, Bulgaria Air, M Car Group – BMW dealer, and Sts. Constantine and Helena Holding.
SENSHI 28 Grand Prix Media partners
Boec.bg, Boec.com, Bulgaria ON AIR, MAX Sport, TrillerTV (USA), Dir.bg, KWUnion.com, KyokushinKarate.News, Fighto.News, and Novinata.bg.
