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On February 28 in Varna, the anniversary edition of SENSHI 30 took place — an event that made history with the first-ever Grand Prix tournament in the -75 kg division. Twelve elite fighters entered the competition, and after a series of extremely demanding battles, the title was claimed by 19-year-old Bulgarian sensation Julien “The Lionheart” Rikov, who defeated Christian Baya in a hard-fought and tactical final. Immediately after the bout, the Boec.bg team spoke with the fighter from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who openly analyzed the reasons behind his defeat and delivered a message to the fans.
Baya admitted he was not fully prepared for the Bulgarian’s specific style and struggled throughout the fight to find the right distance. According to him, Rikov controlled the range perfectly and prevented him from closing in to impose his strongest weapons at close quarters. Each attempt to attack ended in a clinch, which neutralized his combinations and disrupted his rhythm. Despite the disappointment, Baya emphasized that such battles are part of a fighter’s journey and that he will take valuable lessons from this final.
He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete in Bulgaria, describing the SENSHI atmosphere as exceptional and inspiring. Speaking to Boec.bg, Baya promised that this would not be the end of his journey in the organization and vowed to return stronger to deliver an exciting fight and a victory for the fans.
The final of the historic -75 kg tournament became one of the most memorable clashes of the night, and Christian Baya proved that despite the loss he remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. His promise to return suggests that a future rivalry with Julien Rikov may be on the horizon — something SENSHI fans will undoubtedly anticipate with great interest.Watch the full interview here:
