A notable heavyweight team has assembled in Saint Petersburg, representing the strongest lineup since the legendary Red Devil team 20 years ago. The current roster includes Kirill Kornilov (18-3), Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko (6-3 at 93kg), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0, a young Greco-Roman wrestling master), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends training camps. Most of these fighters compete in ACA, which means they face tough competition and inevitable losses. Two upcoming interesting matchups are highlighted: Kirill Kornilov vs Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs Khadis Ibragimov, with Ibragimov also having developed as a professional in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg has quietly assembled one of the most formidable heavyweight rosters in Russian MMA, with a roster headlined by Kirill Kornilov, Alexander Maslov, and several other accomplished fighters drawing comparisons to the celebrated Red Devil team that dominated the sport roughly two decades ago.
The current lineup is built around Kornilov, who carries an 18-3 record, and Maslov, who stands at 12-1. They are joined by Anton Vinnikov (18-5), the unbeaten Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko (6-3, competing at 93 kilograms), young Greco-Roman wrestling specialist Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), and veterans Denis Goltsov (36-9) and Anton Vyazigin (17-6), the latter a regular presence at the team's training camps. Most of the group competes under the ACA banner, where the level of competition is consistently demanding.
Two bouts are drawing particular attention. Kornilov is set to meet Tony Johnson, who holds an 11-3 record and lands two significant strikes per minute at a 53-percent accuracy rate, also averaging two takedowns per 15 minutes. The other matchup pits Matsola against Khadis Ibragimov, a 31-year-old Russian fighting out of Sambo Piter who himself developed as a professional in Saint Petersburg. Standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach, Ibragimov carries an 8-4 record and produces 3.55 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active strikers at heavyweight.
Why it matters
- The Saint Petersburg collective represents the deepest regional heavyweight concentration in Russian MMA since the Red Devil era
- Matsola enters his fight undefeated at 7-0, making the Ibragimov matchup a meaningful test against a seasoned opponent who shares roots in the same city
- ACA's competitive environment means the team's record will be tested regularly, shaping which fighters emerge onto the broader international radar
