Benjamin Adegbuyi is set to compete at SENSHI 31 in Bulgaria on May 30th, facing Daniel Dinev in a super fight in the 95+ kg category. The event will take place at the historic Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv, a venue that dates back to the 1st century AD and was once used for gladiatorial contests.
Adegbuyi’s Path to SENSHI 31
Now 41 and known as “Mr. Gentleman,” Adegbuyi began his martial arts journey with karate at the age of 10. He credits the growing popularity of K1 in Romania for strengthening his passion for kickboxing. His training regimen includes morning sessions for strength and evening sessions dedicated to kickboxing, focusing on sparring and combinations to maintain his sharpness. Adegbuyi emphasizes his continuous learning process, stating, “Even now I still learn.”
His career includes two challenges for the Glory heavyweight belt against Rico Verhoeven. A significant moment was his third-round TKO victory over Badr Hari at Glory 76. Adegbuyi has also achieved Glory tournament wins at events 24 and 50, maintaining a record of 15-8 within the organization.
Reflecting on the Badr Hari Knockout
Looking back at his career highlights, which spans two decades at the top level, Adegbuyi points to his tournament wins at Glory, his two title challenges against Rico Verhoeven, and notably, his win against Badr Hari. He also observed the impressive run of Zhulien Rikov in SENSHI. Adegbuyi sees similarities between Romanian and Bulgarian kickboxing scenes, but acknowledges that “SENSHI reaches the highest level of kickboxing worldwide.”
He believes that physical strength significantly contributes to mental fortitude, stating, “When you are physically strong, the mind follows, making you strong and confident.” Adegbuyi emphasizes the full commitment required of champions. He finds relaxation in cooking and enjoys cheering for his son at basketball games. Maintaining perspective, he notes, “I always think there are people in the world who are 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.” Adegbuyi anticipates a few more fights, including significant bouts planned for next year.
Facing Dinev, a 14-time Bulgarian champion, Adegbuyi expresses confidence: “I feel confident and can’t wait to step back in 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 is eager to test himself against Dinev’s best, noting, “Just to be prepared, I want his best version to test myself.” Fans can expect an exciting fight, as Adegbuyi warns, “A very good fight, don’t miss a second because it can finish in seconds.”
The SENSHI 31 card features an eight-man 70 kg Grand Prix with quarterfinal matchups including Angelo Volpe vs. Samo Petje and Aissam Chadid vs. Bruno Gazani, followed by semifinals, a third-place bout, and the final. Other notable super fights include a heavyweight clash between Mantas Rimdeika and Thomas Bridgewater, and a 75 kg bout between Bart Horvath and Atanas Bozhilov.
