A notable heavyweight MMA team has formed in St. Petersburg, representing the city's strongest lineup in 20 years since the legendary Red Devil gym. 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, young Greco-Roman wrestling master), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends training camps. Most fighters compete in ACA, meaning losses are inevitable due to high competition levels, but successful fighters will prove themselves at world-class level. Two upcoming interesting matchups are highlighted: Kirill Kornilov vs Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs Khadis Ibragimov, with Ibragimov also having developed professionally in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg has assembled what observers are calling the strongest heavyweight MMA roster the city has seen in two decades, evoking comparisons to the legendary Red Devil gym that once defined Russian combat sports at the top level.
The current lineup is built around a core of experienced and emerging heavyweights competing primarily in ACA. Kirill Kornilov carries an 18-3 record, while Alexander Maslov has established himself as one of the more polished prospects on the roster at 12-1. Veteran Denis Goltsov, despite his 36-9 career mark, continues to contribute to the team's culture alongside Anton Vyazigin, who holds a 17-6 record and regularly participates in training camps. Anton Vinnikov brings an 18-5 record to the group, and Daniil Matsola remains undefeated at 7-0. Artem Dushenko competes at 93 kilograms with a 6-3 record, and young Greco-Roman wrestling specialist Dmitry Babaryko is unbeaten at 2-0.
Two matchups on the near horizon will give the team a chance to demonstrate its caliber. Kornilov is set to face Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3 record and lands two significant strikes per minute with a 53 percent striking accuracy. Matsola's undefeated run will be tested against Khadis Ibragimov, a 31-year-old Russian standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and an 8-4 record. Ibragimov, who trains with Sambo Piter, has notable offensive output at 3.55 significant strikes per minute, and interestingly developed part of his professional career in St. Petersburg itself.
Why it matters
- The collective depth of the roster signals St. Petersburg's return as a serious heavyweight hub in Russian MMA
- Matsola's undefeated record faces a genuine test against the experienced and well-rounded Ibragimov
- ACA's competitive heavyweight division means results for this group will carry legitimate world-class weight
- Ibragimov's St. Petersburg ties add an intriguing local dimension to his bout with Matsola
