A notable heavyweight team has assembled in St. Petersburg, potentially the strongest roster since the legendary Red Devil team from 20 years ago. The team 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), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends training camps. Most of these fighters compete in ACA, where the high level of competition means losses are inevitable, but strong records indicate world-class skill. Upcoming fights of interest include Kirill Kornilov vs. Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs. Khadis Ibragimov, with Ibragimov also having developed as a professional in St. Petersburg.
A heavyweight coalition based in St. Petersburg has drawn attention across the MMA world, with observers noting it may represent the strongest concentration of big-man talent from that city since the storied Red Devil team dominated the scene roughly two decades ago.
The roster brings together a deep pool of experienced fighters, led by Kirill Kornilov (18-3) and veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9), whose combined résumés reflect sustained success at the elite level. Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko (6-3), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6), who regularly participates in training camps with the group, round out a roster that competes primarily in ACA, one of the most competitive heavyweight scenes outside the UFC. The depth of those records carries added weight given ACA's demanding competition pool.
Khadis Ibragimov, who holds an 8-4 record and was himself developed professionally in St. Petersburg, is also connected to this environment. The 31-year-old Russian trains out of Sambo Piter and stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach. He lands 3.55 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and averages nearly one takedown per 15 minutes, marking him as a well-rounded threat.
Two matchups drawing near-term attention involve members of this circle. Matsola, still unbeaten at 7-0, is set to face Ibragimov, making it a contest between fighters shaped by the same city. Kornilov, meanwhile, is booked against Tony Johnson, who carries an 11-3 record, stands six-foot-one at 185 centimeters, and lands two significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy while also averaging two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The St. Petersburg collective gives ACA's heavyweight division a geographically concentrated power base rarely seen outside major hubs
- Matsola vs. Ibragimov pits an unbeaten prospect against a seasoned veteran with shared regional roots
- Kornilov vs. Johnson tests one of the group's most prominent names against a solid, well-rounded opponent
