SENSHI kickboxing events place today’s fighters face-to-face with the very legends they grew up watching on YouTube, names like Ernesto Hoost, Semmy Schilt, Andy Souwer, Nicholas Pettas, and Albert Kraus.
These K-1 stars handle referee duties, judge fights, coach at camps, and hand out belts after wins. It's a full-circle moment for the athletes, who share stories of spotting them at airports or posing for photos post-event. The next event is booked for February 28 with SENSHI 30.
Nicolas Sanabria captured it best after competing there himself.
Nicolas Sanabria's Take on Fighting for the Legends
Muay Thai striker Sanabria, who took a decision win over Walter Christopher at SENSHI 23 in the -70 kg class, started with SENSHI after getting tips from friends who'd fought there. But nothing prepared him for the beachside setup at one show, BMWs parked up, motorbikes around, crowds at tables and nearby bars where victors grabbed beers after. Then came the real kicker: Hoost walking over to wrap the belt around his waist.
"One thing is when they tell you, and another whole thing is when you live it... Ernesto Hoost coming to you with the belt, putting the belt around your waist… I was like, it’s amazing. Watching the Legends watching you? It’s something that you will never see anywhere."
He even recognized Hoost, Schilt, and Kraus at the airport on his way home, regular folks on phones nearby had no idea who sat at that table. For Sanabria, sharing a room with them means his career's on track; stepping into the ring takes it higher.
"If I’m in the same room as some of these guys, my career is going okay... It gives you next-level motivation."
Those after-fight ceremonies, with the legends coming close for pics and words, stick with him.
The Colombian-Spanish fighter keeps stacking experience across international shows, facing tough European and global competition while chasing major opportunities. Friends in the scene first pointed him to SENSHI, and now he talks up the motivation from sharing the stage with K-1 icons.
What the Legends Say
Nicholas Pettas gets why it fires up the young ones, as he stepped away from martial arts for decades and uses SENSHI to reconnect with fans. Teaching camps, he sees the same hurdles kids face now that he did back then.
“I just want to take these young gentlemen and women out there that want to fight and just go: 'Come on, just look at what we did 20 years ago and do that, right, because it worked 20 years ago and it works today, too.'”
Ernesto Hoost credits his parents for backing his path and feels the love from Dutch and European fans. His SENSHI link kicked off in 2015 with a seminar right after Hoost's final fight, it grew from there.
Semmy Schilt tells fighters to claim their space without apology. He earned his spot; so do they.
"You have the right to be here... Sometimes you have to take your position. This is my position."
They've shown up consistently, from SENSHI 19 as refs and judges to 22, 24, 28, and now 30 booked for February 28.
Inside SENSHI 30
Since 2019, SENSHI's ran 29 events with 373 fighters from 59 countries, 347 bouts, and 119 knockouts, Bulgaria leads with 14 entrants. Number 30 lands February 28 at Varna's Palace of Culture and Sports, debuting a 75kg Grand Prix under KWU Full Contact rules. Twelve fighters chase the title in one night: quarters, semis, third-place match, and final.
Key quarters: Gasham Mammadov (Azerbaijan) vs. Zhulien Rikov (Bulgaria); Konstantin Rusu (Moldova) vs. Florin Lambagiu (Romania); Jordi Requejo (Spain) vs. Konstantin Stoykov (Bulgaria); Maximo Suarez (Spain) vs. Christian Baya (DR Congo). Reserves ready if needed: Aibek Amanov (Kazakhstan) vs. Victor Krashevski (Bulgaria); Fernando Tigre (Portugal) vs. David Kinkhefner (Hungary).
Three superfights round it out: Hirokatsu Miyagi (Japan) vs. Samo Petje (Slovenia) at 70kg; Charalampos Digkas (Greece) vs. Diyan Dimitrov (Bulgaria) at 70kg; Francesko Xhaja (Albania) vs. Giannis Stoforidis (Greece) at 95kg. Fighters hail from 13 nations, backed by KWU International Pro League and sponsors like Armeec Insurance, MAX Sport, and BMW's M Car Group. Grab tickets on Eventim.bg or catch it on TrillerTV.
The legends return for SENSHI 30, handing trophies just like at past shows, another chance for fighters to live Sanabria's story. The event will stream live on YouTube.
