Konstantin Stoykov is fully prepared for battle at the first Grand Prix tournament in the -75 kg division of the international fighting series SENSHI, which will take place on February 28 in Varna, Bulgaria. At just 22 years old, Konstantin Stoykov is already an 11-time Bulgarian kickboxing champion and a three-time Pro Fight winner. On the SENSHI ring, he has recorded two victories and one loss.
In a special interview for Gong.bg, he stated that he is entering the tournament highly motivated, with the clear goal of getting through three extremely tough fights, ending only in victories. For him, there is no room for compromise—he steps into the ring solely to achieve the maximum result.
Stoykov emphasizes that the key to his success will be composure, total focus, and an unwavering will to win. He believes that determination and a strong spirit are the lessons every opponent will feel in direct confrontation. His message to rivals is clear and categorical—to be ready for a hard, uncompromising, and exhausting battle. To his fans, he promises a true spectacle—an explosion of emotions, high adrenaline, and a show worthy of the grand SENSHI Grand Prix stage. Here is what the young kickboxer shared with our media further.
– The Grand Prix format requires winning several tough fights in one evening. How are you preparing physically and mentally for such a challenge?
There is definitely a difference in preparation for a tournament of this magnitude. We train much harder—almost every workout is now two sessions a day. In addition, during the SENSHI camp in January, we even had three training sessions in a single day. I go through a lot of high-intensity training, dedicate more time overall, and rotate sparring partners more frequently. I also went to Italy, where I gained experience sparring with other top fighters. Back in Bulgaria, the sparring sessions at the SENSHI camp were very useful, and more guys also came to train at our gym. I constantly try to spar against different opponents. Mentally, I’ve simply accepted that for this edition, pain is my friend—I accept injuries, and I’m fine with feeling pain. I just keep moving forward. I will reach my goal and achieve it. Pain won’t stop me—neither will injuries.
– The -75 kg division is one of the most competitive in SENSHI. Where do you see your advantage over the other participants?
All the names competing in the Grand Prix are already known. My advantage is the mindset of a champion. Mentally, I consider myself very resilient—I don’t break easily. Especially for this edition, I’ve conditioned myself to believe that the only way I can lose is if I physically cannot step out of the ring. So mental toughness is my leading weapon. On top of that, I believe I am very physically strong for this weight class.
– You have a record of two wins and one loss on the SENSHI ring. What did you learn from those fights, and with what mindset are you entering the Grand Prix?
I feel very comfortable on the ring, especially when I’m fighting in my hometown. Another important factor is that a part of the audience will be there specifically because of me. The moment my entrance song starts, and I appear on the walkway before stepping into the ring, you’ll see how the crowd explodes. That’s an extra boost—it gives you wings, as they say. The experience I’ve gained on the SENSHI ring so far has made me a smarter fighter, and I’ve eliminated the mistakes I made in previous editions. That’s exactly what I plan to show on February 28.
– You are from Varna—the city that hosts many SENSHI editions. Does that give you extra motivation, or does it add pressure when you fight in front of the home crowd?
There is some weight on my shoulders, because you know that absolutely everyone there has come to support you. I’m convinced that around 60–70% of the audience at the Palace of Culture and Sports will be people I know—friends, relatives, and others—who will be there fully backing my fight. And that gives me real pleasure. The pressure is there, but the Varna crowd motivates me more than anything, because I know I’m doing this in front of their eyes, and that they experience the emotions together with me. I know that when they raise my hand at the end of the fight, they’ll be just as happy as I am. I simply want to make them enjoy the fight so much that when I’m announced as the winner, the arena explodes with emotion, and I hear their cheers. I’m certain that, no matter what, the support will be felt in the air.
– What is your ultimate goal in SENSHI—winning this Grand Prix, establishing yourself among the elite, or something more long-term?
Winning this Grand Prix—taking the championship belt in the division—is definitely one step higher toward my goals. After that, I want to extract the absolute maximum from SENSHI. To achieve as much as possible and leave my name in the history of the organization. A simple example is Atanas Bozhilov—he is one of the emblematic figures of SENSHI, having missed only a few editions in which he didn’t step into the ring. Everyone already knows him as “Mr. SENSHI.” I’m chasing his achievements and even planning to surpass them, because I’m younger now and have the opportunity to be on this ring earlier in my career. The prospects are ahead of me. Whatever I can win, I step out, and I win it.
