St. Petersburg has assembled a notable heavyweight MMA team, representing the strongest lineup in the city 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 at 93 kg (6-3), Dmitry Baboryko, a young Greco-Roman wrestling master (2-0), Denis Goltsov (36-9), and regular training camp participant Anton Vyazigin (17-6). Most compete in ACA, where the high level of competition makes victories difficult but proves the quality of successful fighters. 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 St. Petersburg.
Two upcoming bouts spotlighting St. Petersburg's resurgent heavyweight scene are generating attention as the city's MMA community marks roughly two decades since the Red Devil camp stood as one of Russia's most feared fight gyms.
The current St. Petersburg heavyweight roster is being recognized as the strongest collective the city has produced since that era. The group includes Kirill Kornilov (18-3), Alexander Maslov (12-1), Anton Vinnikov (18-5), the unbeaten Daniil Matsola (7-0), Artem Dushenko competing at 93 kilograms (6-3), young Greco-Roman wrestling specialist Dmitry Baboryko (2-0), veteran Denis Goltsov (36-9), and regular training partner Anton Vyazigin (17-6). The majority compete under the ACA banner, where the competitive standard is widely regarded as a reliable measure of a fighter's quality.
Two matchups involving team members are drawing particular interest. Kornilov faces Tony Johnson, an eleven-and-three heavyweight who lands two significant strikes per minute at a 53-percent accuracy rate and adds two takedowns per fifteen minutes to his game. Matsola, still perfect through seven professional appearances, is set to meet Khadis Ibragimov, a 31-year-old Russian fighting out of Sambo Piter. Ibragimov, who is noted as having developed professionally in St. Petersburg himself, stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and carries an eight-and-four record. He is an active striker, landing 3.55 significant strikes per minute, and mixes in takedowns at nearly one per fifteen minutes.
Why it matters
- Matsola's undefeated record meets a tested opponent in Ibragimov, whose connections to St. Petersburg add an extra layer to the matchup
- The broader roster depth signals that the city is again capable of producing heavyweight talent at a high regional level
- ACA's competitive environment means the records these fighters carry have been earned against credible opposition
