Zhulien Rikov enters SENSHI 29 on December 6 in Varna as one of Bulgaria’s key players, aiming to make a statement in his battle with Spanish-Moroccan striker Alex Fernandez. The 19-year-old already has international hardware and a history SENSHI behind him, and he openly talks about building a future title contender in the promotion
SENSHI 29 takes place on December 6, 2025 at the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria, and serves as the promotion’s final fight card of the year. Rikov is booked at 75 kilograms against Spaniard Alex Fernandez, a clash that will emerge early in a twelve-match lineup featuring athletes from 16 countries.
Who is Zhulien Rikov?
Rikov represents the Desant Sports Club from Dobrich, part of a renowned Bulgarian kickboxing club Muay Thai school that has produced several national level talents. Despite his age, he is a two-time Kickboxing World Cup winner, two-time European Cup winner and eight-time Bulgarian National Champion, as well as a gold medalist at the WAKO World and European Cups. SENSHI 29 will be his fourth professional fight and his second appearance under the SENSHI banner, with one SENSHI victory already under his belt.
“There are about two weeks of training left, followed by the weight loss period. Into the SENSHI training camp October was perfect to gain experience and test ourselves with different styles. We fought with as many fighters as possible”
In the run-up to December 6, Rikov has been training twice a day and moving to full sparring rounds, describing the camp as tough but on track and emphasizing that athletes “ [their] “health at stake” during this phase. He says there were about two weeks of intense work left before he tapped into weight cutting, using the recent SENSHI training camp in October to test himself against multiple styles and partners. Speaking about Sportal Fight Club he called SENSHI 29 “one of the biggest challenges” of his career so far and stressed that he expects his opponent to be similarly prepared so he can deliver a high-level fight.
Rikov initially described his foe as an older, more experienced fighter from Spain, and the card pits him against Spanish athlete Alex Fernandez at 75kg. In a Bulgarian TV interview, he added that his opponent was born in Morocco but lives in Spain, and he sees the match as a style clash with a dangerous rival that still does not worry him. He has said that all he wants to do on fight night is think about “crushing him” and seeing his own hand go up.
“My opponent was born in Morocco but lives in Spain. During the match, all I think about is crushing him and seeing my hand raised. I have no weak side compared to his. I’m much better than him.”
Rikov calls SENSHI “one of the biggest fight promotions in Europe” and says competing there “means a lot,” especially with a home crowd expected in Varna. He admits that nerves are always present and that the crowd can help or distract a fighter. That’s why he focuses on mental discipline in the ring. Looking beyond December 6, he has stated that if SENSHI offers him the opportunity, he is ready to fight for a title.
SENSHI 29
SENSHI functions under the KWU International Professional League and combines Kyokushin roots with modern kickboxing and Muay Thai rule sets that allow for a wide range of striking techniques, including elbows and throws in some formats. SENSHI 29 closes the campaign’s 2025 calendar and coincides with a broader SENSHI training infrastructure, including recent camps that have included figures such as Semmy Schilt and Ernesto High as instructors and officials.
For Rikov, another strong result in Varna would add to a resume that already includes several international amateur titles, bring him closer to a shot at the SENSHI title and further cement his status among the Bulgarian ‘lions’ highlighted for this card.
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