Saint Petersburg has assembled its most impressive heavyweight team since the legendary Red Devil gym approximately 20 years 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 93 kg), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0, a young Greco-Roman wrestling master of sport), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends training camps. Most of the team competes in ACA, which means inevitable losses due to the high level of competition, but successful fighters will prove themselves at world-class level. Two upcoming interesting matchups are Kirill Kornilov vs. Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs. Khadis Ibragimov, with Ibragimov also having developed professionally in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg's heavyweight scene is experiencing a significant resurgence, with the city now boasting its deepest and most talented roster of big men in roughly two decades — a lineage that traces back to the storied Red Devil gym that produced fighters of international renown in the early 2000s.
The current crop is headlined by Kirill Kornilov (18-3), who has an upcoming bout against Tony Johnson (11-3) that figures to be one of the more compelling matchups on the local calendar. Johnson, standing six-foot-one at 185 cm, brings a measured but accurate striking game, connecting at 53 percent and averaging two significant strikes per minute while also contributing two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Alongside Kornilov, the Saint Petersburg heavyweight collective features Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), and undefeated prospect Daniil Matsola (7-0), who is set to face Khadis Ibragimov (8-4). Ibragimov, 31, is himself a product of the Saint Petersburg system, having developed professionally in the city before competing under the Sambo Piter banner. The six-foot-three Russian carries a 78-inch reach and generates an active 3.55 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, also mixing in takedown attempts at nearly one per 15 minutes.
Rounding out the roster are Artem Dushenko (6-3 at 93 kg), young Greco-Roman wrestling master of sport Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6), who contributes regularly through training camps.
Why it matters
- The team competes primarily in ACA, one of the most competitive regional promotions, meaning their records are being tested at a meaningful level.
- Strong performances in ACA have historically served as a pathway to world-class organizations for Russian heavyweights.
- The Matsola-Ibragimov matchup carries an added narrative layer given Ibragimov's own roots in the Saint Petersburg training environment.
- Baboryko's Greco-Roman credentials add a distinct grappling dimension to an already well-rounded collective.
