Saint Petersburg has assembled what may be its strongest 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 93kg), Dmitry Baboryko (2-0, a young master of sport in Greco-Roman wrestling), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and Anton Vyazigin (17-6) who regularly attends training camps. Most of these fighters compete in ACA, which means losses are inevitable given the high level of competition, but those who maintain strong records can be considered world-class fighters. Two interesting upcoming matchups feature this Saint Petersburg contingent: 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 generating renewed attention after the Russian city quietly assembled one of its deepest rosters in two decades, drawing comparisons to the celebrated Red Devil gym that produced world-class talent in the early 2000s.
The current group is headlined by a mix of experienced campaigners and unbeaten prospects. Kirill Kornilov carries an 18-3 record, Alexander Maslov sits at 12-1, and Anton Vinnikov brings 18-5 experience to the team. Undefeated Daniil Matsola is 7-0, while Artem Dushenko competes at 93 kilograms with a 6-3 mark. Dmitry Baboryko, a young master of sport in Greco-Roman wrestling, is a pristine 2-0 and represents the group's future. Veterans Denis Goltsov (36-9) and Anton Vyazigin (17-6), the latter a regular at team training camps, round out the roster. The majority compete in ACA, a promotion known for its stiff competition, which gives added weight to the stronger records on the list.
Two upcoming matchups will test the group's standing. Kornilov is set to face Tony Johnson, who holds an 11-3 record, lands two significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy, and adds two takedowns per 15 minutes. Matsola's unbeaten run will be challenged by Khadis Ibragimov, a 31-year-old Russian fighting out of Sambo Piter who himself developed professionally in Saint Petersburg. The six-foot-three Ibragimov carries a 78-inch reach and an 8-4 record, landing 3.55 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 49 percent.
Why it matters
- Saint Petersburg's collective depth at heavyweight is the strongest the region has shown since the Red Devil era roughly 20 years ago
- Kornilov vs Johnson and Matsola vs Ibragimov will serve as early benchmarks for how this generation measures against established competition
- Ibragimov's Saint Petersburg roots add an intra-scene subplot to the Matsola fight
