St. Petersburg has assembled its most formidable heavyweight team in 20 years, potentially the strongest lineup 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 at 93kg (6-3), Dmitry Baboryko, a young Greco-Roman wrestling master (2-0), Denis Goltsov (36-9) training separately, and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends camps. Most of these fighters compete in ACA, which means they will inevitably face losses due to the high level of competition, but those who compile good records there can legitimately be considered world-class fighters. Two particularly interesting upcoming matchups are Kirill Kornilov vs Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs Khadis Ibragimov, with Ibragimov also having developed professionally in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg's heavyweight scene has quietly rebuilt itself into one of the most formidable regional powerhouses in combat sports, with coaches and insiders now describing the current roster as the strongest collective the city has produced in roughly two decades — a lineage that traces back to the legendary Red Devil gym.
The current group is headlined by Kirill Kornilov (18-3) and includes Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), the unbeaten Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko competing at 93 kilograms (6-3), Greco-Roman wrestling specialist Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9) who trains separately, and Anton Vyazigin (17-6), a regular presence at team camps. Most of these fighters compete in ACA, a promotion known for its demanding heavyweight competition, meaning losses will come — but strong records built there carry genuine world-class credibility.
Two matchups stand out from this environment. Kornilov is set to face Tony Johnson, an 11-3 heavyweight who stands six-foot-one and lands two significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, bringing a solid wrestling dimension with two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Matsola's upcoming opponent, Khadis Ibragimov, adds an intriguing local dimension to the story. The 31-year-old Russian, who carries an 8-4 record and developed professionally in St. Petersburg himself, now represents Sambo Piter. Standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach, Ibragimov is an active striker who lands 3.55 significant strikes per minute, giving him one of the higher output rates Matsola will have faced as an undefeated prospect.
Why it matters
- Matsola's unbeaten record faces its stiffest test against an experienced, St. Petersburg-trained opponent in Ibragimov
- Kornilov's matchup with Johnson pits one of the team's most seasoned fighters against a credentialed heavyweight
- ACA's competitive level means this cluster of fighters could serve as a reliable pipeline for higher-profile promotions
- The St. Petersburg scene now has depth across multiple weight classes within the heavyweight and cruiserweight range
