St. Petersburg has assembled its strongest heavyweight team since the legendary Red Devil camp 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), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0, young master of sport in Greco-Roman wrestling), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and regular training camp visitor Anton Vyazigin (17-6). Most fighters compete in ACA, which creates tough competition and inevitable losses, but those who succeed will prove themselves at world-class level. Two notable 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 is experiencing a notable resurgence, with the city now boasting its deepest and most talented collection of big men since the storied Red Devil camp defined Russian MMA roughly two decades ago.
The current roster operating out of the northern capital is headlined by Kirill Kornilov (18-3) and veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9), who brings the kind of experience rarely seen outside elite international camps. Alexander Maslov (12-1) and Anton Vinnikov (18-5) add proven records to the mix, while undefeated prospect Daniil Matsola (7-0) represents the group's most exciting emerging talent. Artem Dushenko (6-3) and Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), a young master of sport in Greco-Roman wrestling, round out a squad with genuine depth across experience levels. Anton Vyazigin (17-6), a regular training camp visitor, also contributes to the competitive environment the group has built.
The majority of these fighters compete in ACA, a promotion known for matching heavyweights aggressively, which explains the losses on several records but also validates the wins as meaningful results against credible opposition.
Two matchups on the horizon will offer early tests of how this camp measures up internationally. 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 unbeaten run will be challenged by Khadis Ibragimov, a 31-year-old Russian fighting out of Sambo Piter who stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and produces 3.55 significant strikes per minute. Notably, Ibragimov himself developed professionally in St. Petersburg, adding an intra-city dimension to that contest.
Why it matters
- St. Petersburg now has legitimate depth at heavyweight, not just one or two standout names
- ACA competition has battle-tested the roster against high-level regional opposition
- The Kornilov and Matsola bouts will serve as clear benchmarks for the camp's world-class potential
- Ibragimov's St. Petersburg roots give the Matsola fight added local significance
