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Sharif Ben Mabrouk is arriving at the SENSHI 33 Grand Prix with a simple message for the 95kg field: do not count on him to play it safe. The 22-year-old Dutch-Tunisian kickboxer believes his mindset, hunger and willingness to embrace the underdog role can carry him through one of the toughest formats in the sport. Available on DAZN.<\/p>\n
The light heavyweight tournament takes place Saturday, September 5, at the beach arena in Saints Constantine and Helena near Varna, Bulgaria. Eight fighters will enter the one-night bracket, and the champion must win a quarterfinal, semifinal and final on the same card. Ben Mabrouk opens against Turkey\u2019s Emin \u00d6zer, with the winner moving into the final four.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly God can stop me,\u201d Ben Mabrouk said when asked whether anybody in the tournament can halt his run. That confidence comes with a clear sense of purpose. Ben Mabrouk, who calls himself \u201cThe Monster,\u201d said he feels made for this stage and sees a difference between wanting to win and needing to win. \u201cI was born for this,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe nobody has the same hunger as me.\u201d<\/p>\n
His self-assessment goes beyond pre-fight talk. Ben Mabrouk says his biggest weapon is \u201cmy hunger and mentality,\u201d and he approaches every fight with a high-risk, high-output attitude. He describes his style in one word: \u201cAggressive.\u201d A decision victory holds little appeal for him either. \u201cI only want a knockout,\u201d he said. \u201cA win on decision does not feel like a real win for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
That outlook could make his SENSHI 33 quarterfinal with \u00d6zer one of the card\u2019s most direct matchups. The tournament includes Bulgaria\u2019s reigning SENSHI European champion Eduard \u201cMr. Action\u201d Aleksanyan, who moves up from 90kg, along with Romania\u2019s Yuri Farcas, Portugal\u2019s Iuri Fernandes, Moldova\u2019s Alexandru Burduja, Italy\u2019s Ramon Quirini and Germany\u2019s Ali Nasir. The four quarterfinal winners return later that night for the semifinals, leaving little time to recover from damage or reset after an opening-round war.<\/p>\n
Ben Mabrouk does not present himself as the favorite. In fact, he would rather people doubt him. \u201cPlease don\u2019t believe it,\u201d he said when asked why fans should expect him to leave with the trophy. \u201cI have always been the underdog and love this position. I am the youngest fighter in the tournament but will show everyone what I\u2019m capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n
If he gets the chance to choose a final opponent, Ben Mabrouk has his eye on DR Congo\u2019s Boke\u0301me, whom he calls the best fighter in the field. \u201cI know that I need to beat the top to become the top,\u201d he said. The comment fits his long-term plan at SENSHI, where he wants to collect titles at 85kg, 95kg and eventually heavyweight.<\/p>\n
Outside the ring, Ben Mabrouk is in the final year of a business degree at Erasmus University and has trained in martial arts for four years. He says combat sports helped him redirect anger that had caused problems while growing up. \u201cFighting took away my anger outside the ring,\u201d he said. \u201cAll of that went away when I started kickboxing.\u201d<\/p>\n
His discipline is the quality he values most, even if that same mentality can become a weakness. Ben Mabrouk admits he can push himself too far in training and be too hard on himself. Still, he sees no reason to soften his approach ahead of a career-defining opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to show my heart,\u201d Ben Mabrouk said ahead of his return to Bulgaria. After a successful SENSHI 32 debut in July, he is now in the main Grand Prix bracket rather than a reserve bout. For a fighter who says he was born for combat, three wins in one night is exactly the assignment he wants.<\/p>\n
SENSHI 33 streams live and free worldwide on DAZN, with the event scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. EEST.<\/p>\n