Benjamin Adegbuyi is set to compete at SENSHI 31 in Bulgaria on May 30th, an event taking place at the historic Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv. The Romanian heavyweight fighter will face Daniel Dinev in a super fight in the 95+ kg category. The venue, the Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv, boasts a rich history dating back to the 1st century AD and was once a stage for gladiatorial contests.
Adegbuyi’s Journey to SENSHI 31
Now 41 years old and known by the nickname “Mr. Gentleman,” Adegbuyi began his martial arts journey with karate at the age of 10. He credits the growing popularity of K-1 in Romania for strengthening his passion for kickboxing. His training regimen includes morning sessions focused on strength and evening sessions dedicated to kickboxing, incorporating sparring and combo drills to maintain his sharpness. Adegbuyi emphasizes his continuous learning, stating, “Even now I still learn.”
His career has seen him challenge Rico Verhoeven twice for the Glory heavyweight championship. A significant highlight was his third-round TKO victory over Badr Hari at Glory 76. Adegbuyi has also secured tournament wins at Glory events 24 and 50, holding a 15-8 record within the promotion.
The Impact of the Badr Hari Victory
Reflecting on his career’s peak moments, Adegbuyi mentions his tournament wins at the highest level with Glory, his two title challenges against Rico Verhoeven, and notably, his victory over Badr Hari. He notes that his prominent status has been maintained for two decades. He also pointed out Zhulien Rikov’s impressive run in SENSHI. Adegbuyi sees kickboxing in Romania as mirroring that of Bulgaria, but believes SENSHI represents the pinnacle of global kickboxing.
Adegbuyi attributes his strong mindset to physical exertion, explaining, “When you are physically strong, the mind follows and makes you strong and confident.” He believes champions are defined by their complete commitment. To unwind, he enjoys cooking and supports his son at his basketball games. Maintaining perspective, he says, “I always think there are people in the world worse off than me in every aspect.” For aspiring fighters, his advice is to “believe in yourself, never give up, and if you have a dream, be ready to sacrifice for it.” He anticipates having a few more fights, including significant ones next year.
Heading into his match against Dinev, the 14-time Bulgarian champion, Adegbuyi expresses confidence: “I feel confident and can’t wait to step back into the ring again.” He defines SENSHI as embodying “honorable respect and sportsmanship.” His strategy is simple: “Just be myself because that’s all I need.” He views the fight as an opportunity for Dinev to gain valuable experience: “Just to be prepared, I want his best version to test myself.” He promises an exciting fight for the fans, warning, “A very good fight, don’t miss a second because it can finish in seconds.”
The event’s main card features an eight-man 70 kg Grand Prix, with quarter-final matchups including Angelo Volpe vs. Samo Petje and Aissam Chadid vs. Bruno Gazani, followed by semi-finals, a third-place bout, and the final. Other notable super fights include Mantas Rimdeika vs. Thomas Bridgewater in the heavyweight division and Bart Horvath vs. Atanas Bozhilov at 75 kg.
