St. Petersburg has assembled its most formidable heavyweight lineup since the legendary Red Devil team two decades 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, young Greco-Roman wrestling master), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and regular training camp participant Anton Vyazigin (17-6). Most compete in ACA, where the high level of competition means inevitable losses but also validates fighters who succeed as world-class talents. 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. The author plans to watch these St. Petersburg-connected fights at ACA 202.
St. Petersburg's heavyweight scene is generating serious attention ahead of ACA 202, with the Russian city having quietly built what many are calling its deepest roster of big men in roughly 20 years — a collection that draws favorable comparisons to the storied Red Devil team that produced champions and contenders two decades ago.
The current crop is headlined by Kirill Kornilov (18-3), who faces Tony Johnson in one of two marquee matchups spotlighted at the event. Johnson carries an 11-3-0 record and stands six-foot-one at 185 cm, bringing a measured offensive approach to the cage — he lands around two significant strikes per minute at a sharp 53 percent accuracy rate and adds roughly two takedowns per 15 minutes to his game. Kornilov's opponent is no gatekeeper.
The second featured bout pairs the unbeaten Daniil Matsola (7-0) against Khadis Ibragimov (8-4-0), a fighter who himself developed professionally inside the St. Petersburg system through the Sambo Piter team. Ibragimov, 31, is an orthodox heavyweight standing six-foot-three at 191 cm with a 78-inch reach. He is one of the more active strikers in the division at this level, landing 3.55 significant strikes per minute, and mixes in nearly one takedown per 15 minutes alongside a modest submission threat.
The broader roster surrounding those fights is substantial. Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), and veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9) add experience and pedigree, while younger names like Artem Dushenko (6-3) and the undefeated Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), described as a Greco-Roman wrestling specialist, point toward future depth. Anton Vyazigin (17-6) rounds out the group as a regular training camp presence.
Why it matters
- Two unbeaten or highly ranked St. Petersburg fighters face serious tests at ACA 202, making the card a genuine proving ground
- The Matsola-Ibragimov matchup carries an unusual dynamic, with both men sharing roots in the same city's development pipeline
- ACA's competitive environment means the records across this roster have been forged against credible opposition
