A notable heavyweight team has gathered in St. Petersburg, potentially the strongest lineup since the legendary Red Devil team 20 years ago. The group includes Kirill Kornilov (18-3), Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko (6-3), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends training camps. Most fighters compete in ACA, where the high level of competition makes it difficult to maintain winning records. Two interesting upcoming matchups are highlighted: Kirill Kornilov vs Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs Khadis Ibragimov, with the latter also having developed as a professional in St. Petersburg.
A formidable heavyweight training camp has taken shape in St. Petersburg, bringing together one of the most impressive collections of big-man talent Russia has seen in roughly two decades, drawing comparisons to the storied Red Devil team of the early 2000s.
The group assembles eight heavyweights under one roof: Kirill Kornilov (18-3), Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko (6-3), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6), who participates in camps on a regular basis. The majority compete in ACA, a promotion known for its competitive heavyweight division — a circuit where staying clean on the record is no easy task.
Two matchups emerging from this camp draw particular attention. Kornilov, one of the more experienced fighters in the group at 18-3, is set to face Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3 record. Johnson stands six-foot-one and brings a measured striking game, landing two significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy while also averaging two takedowns per fifteen minutes.
The other featured bout pits the unbeaten Matsola (7-0) against Khadis Ibragimov (8-4), a 31-year-old Russian orthodox striker who himself developed professionally in St. Petersburg before competing internationally. Fighting out of Sambo Piter, Ibragimov stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and produces 3.55 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active punchers at heavyweight.
Why it matters
- The camp's depth across eight heavyweights signals a potential surge for St. Petersburg as a developmental hub in Russian MMA
- Matsola's unbeaten record faces its stiffest test yet against the experienced Ibragimov
- Both matchups carry ACA divisional implications, with heavyweight rankings in the promotion increasingly competitive
