Simeon Nakovski: Four or Five Years Ago, I Dreamed of SENSHI; This Fight is Recognition

Simeon Nakovski, one of Bulgaria's top and most popular kickboxers, was a special guest on "Sportal Fight Club" ahead of his participation in the major SENSHI 33 fight night in Varna on September 5th.

This will be Nakovski's debut in the international series, where he will be featured in the super fights program. SENSHI 33 will also showcase three other Bulgarians: Ognyan Mirchev, Julien Rikov, and Eduard Aleksanyan, with Aleksanyan competing in the heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.

"This will be my first time competing at SENSHI," Nakovski stated in the Sportal.bg studio. "It's a great honor and responsibility to live up to the trust placed in me and to step into such a big ring with so many excellent fighters. I'm truly happy with how things have unfolded. The organizers reached out and offered me a spot. It took me about 20 seconds to respond. I accepted immediately. Everything is on another level here.

What really impressed me was that about an hour after I confirmed, I already knew who my opponent would be. They showed him to me and asked again if I wanted the fight. Half an hour later, they called and said, 'The match is set, you're in.' Everything happened within two or three hours.

I've attended four or five of their training camps, and I'm genuinely impressed – by the attitude, the conditions, absolutely everything. Every detail is meticulously handled. We're accommodated in excellent hotels. The food is superb – there's nothing more you could ask for. The organization is fantastic. They pick you up from the hotel, drive you to the gym, and you train with some very serious names in the sport. These are legends we watched on TV as kids. I never imagined I'd be coached by Semmy Schilt, Andy Souwer, or Albert Kraus. These are people I had only seen on television until then. Thanks to SENSHI, not just me, but many Bulgarian fighters, as well as competitors from all over the world, get the opportunity to train alongside them.

At every SENSHI gala and every camp, they are deeply involved in the entire process. My personal opinion is that they are very down-to-earth people. They haven't let fame go to their heads and never refuse to answer your questions. Whenever I've asked for a photo, they've always obliged. They take pictures, crack a few jokes, and contribute to an even more pleasant atmosphere. It doesn't feel so much like a camp. You learn a lot, you get to interact with these legends, and you create memories for a lifetime.

So far, everything is going according to plan. Touch wood, I have no injuries. I hope to stay healthy. Preparation is going well. I'll finalize it in Varna, where I'll complete the rest of my training at SENSHI Gym with Vladimir Valev-Pitbull. I hope to step into the ring on September 5th, give my best, and justify the trust placed in me.

I personally consider 2026 one of my most successful years because I became European champion in Spain in May. For me, 2026 is my most successful year as an athlete. If I add a win at SENSHI, there will certainly be no question about whether this is my most successful year.

You just shouldn't rush and get ahead of yourself. Everything happens at the right time and in the right place. It's no secret that four or five years ago, I dreamed of fighting at SENSHI. I've attended their camps and watched every gala on TV. I dreamed of reaching that ring.

The fact that I've had five knockouts in my previous five fights doesn't mean I've gotten cocky and think I'm a big knockout artist. I know my fight at SENSHI will be incredibly tough, and I'm mentally preparing for a hard battle. Every night when I go to bed, I mentally prepare for it to be tough, for me to take punches and have to return them. I'm preparing for three rounds of war. At SENSHI, there might even be an extra round. I'm including that in my preparation and training to be ready for it. I'm mentally preparing for a very difficult match to stay focused. If I win by knockout, it would be unique for me, and I'd be thrilled, but the most important thing is to win. I don't insist on a knockout. I just want to win and show that I have the qualities to be in that ring and have earned my place there.

I'm glad that SENSHI noticed me. I've said before that I don't have ambitions for Glory, ONE, and so on. For me, SENSHI is a huge recognition for all the hard work I've put in. I'm happy to step into that ring alongside the fighters who will participate in the gala. The legends will be there again. They'll be referees and around the ring. For me, that's the recognition. I don't care for any other recognition.

I would invite all combat sports enthusiasts, and even those who aren't, to come to Varna on September 5th, to the beach where the gala will be held. The atmosphere is wonderful. Let them enjoy balanced and high-quality fights and support me, Eduard, Ogi, and Julien – the four Bulgarian participants, as well as the foreign fighters. Everyone is at a level where they deserve to be supported and watched. So, everyone is welcome. It will truly be a great spectacle," Nakovski concluded for Sportal.bg, and you can watch his full interview in the video.