Saint Petersburg has developed its strongest heavyweight MMA team since the legendary Red Devil camp 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 93kg), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0, young Greco-Roman wrestling champion), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly trains there. Most fight in ACA, which means losses are inevitable given the tough competition, but success there indicates world-level ability. Two upcoming interesting matchups feature team members: Kirill Kornilov vs Tony Johnson and Daniil Matsola vs Khadis Ibragimov, with Ibragimov also having developed professionally in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg's heavyweight MMA scene is experiencing a significant resurgence, with a deep roster of fighters establishing the city as one of Russia's premier development hubs for big men — a status it has not held since the storied Red Devil camp dominated the landscape two decades ago.
The current group includes a mix of established veterans and rising prospects. Kirill Kornilov carries an 18-3 record, while Alexander Maslov has been nearly perfect at 12-1. Anton Vinnikov adds experience at 18-5, and unbeaten Daniil Matsola is a genuine prospect at 7-0. Artem Dushenko competes at 93 kilograms with a 6-3 mark, and young Greco-Roman wrestling champion Dmitry Baboryko is undefeated at 2-0. Veterans Denis Goltsov (36-9) and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) round out a roster that trains regularly at the Saint Petersburg facility. Most members compete in ACA, a promotion known for its demanding heavyweight matchmaking — the losses on these records reflect tough opposition rather than a lack of quality.
Two upcoming matchups will test the group. Kornilov is set to face Tony Johnson, who holds an 11-3 record and lands two significant strikes per minute with a 53 percent accuracy rate, also averaging two takedowns per 15 minutes. Matsola will meet Khadis Ibragimov, a 31-year-old Russian orthodox fighter standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach. Ibragimov, who carries an 8-4 record and lands 3.55 significant strikes per minute, notably developed professionally in Saint Petersburg himself, giving the matchup an added layer of familiarity between camps.
Why it matters
- Saint Petersburg now fields one of the deepest regional heavyweight rosters in European MMA
- ACA's competitive environment means strong records there carry genuine world-level credibility
- Kornilov vs Johnson and Matsola vs Ibragimov will offer early indications of how this generation measures up against established opposition
