Matt Schnell Explained

Matt Schnell
Nickname:Danger
Birth Name:Matthew Christopher Schnell[1]
Birth Date:15 January 1990
Birth Place:Amory, Mississippi, U.S.
Residence:Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Weight Lb:125
Weight Class:Flyweight
Bantamweight
Reach In:72+1/2
Rank:Black belt in Karate[2]
Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting Out Of:Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Team:American Top Team (2014–2017)[3]
Combat Sports Academy (2017–present)[4]
American Kickboxing Academy (2017–present)[5]
Years Active:2009–present
Mma Kowin:2
Mma Subwin:9
Mma Decwin:4
Mma Dqwin:1
Mma Koloss:5
Mma Subloss:2
Mma Decloss:1
Mma Nc:1
Sherdog:47006

Matthew Christopher Schnell (born January 15, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Schnell formerly competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Champion. As of July 30, 2024, he is #11 in the UFC flyweight rankings.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

Caged

In 2012, Schnell was one of the young MMA fighters featured in Caged - an MTV reality television series. The show focused on four prospective MMA fighters in small-town Louisiana. Schnell was one of the two fighters on the show, alongside Tony Kelley, to later fight professionally.[7]

Legacy Fighting Championship

Schnell joined Legacy Fighting Championship in 2012 and went 9–2 in various promotions before joining the cast of The Ultimate Fighter, season 24.

The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions

On May 11, 2016, the UFC announced that the 16 contestants for would be flyweight champion fighters from various organizations around the world, with the winner being expected to have a chance to fight for the flyweight title against Demetrious Johnson. Schnell was announced as part of the cast in July and selected for Team Cejudo.[8]

In the first round on the show, Schnell seeded at #6 faced #11 Matt Rizzo and defeated him in the second round via a triangle choke submission. Schnell advanced to the quarterfinals and faced #3 seed Tim Elliott. He lost the fight via first-round submission due to a bulldog choke.[9]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After his stint on The Ultimate Fighter, Schnell was chosen as one of the cast mates to get a contract. Schnell fought Rob Font in the bantamweight division at The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[10]

Schnell returned to the flyweight division and faced Hector Sandoval on April 22, 2017, at . He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[11]

Schnell next fought on October 7, 2017 at UFC 216 against Marco Beltrán. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[12]

Schnell faced Naoki Inoue on June 23, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 132.[13] He won the fight via split decision.[14]

Schnell faced Louis Smolka in a bantamweight bout on March 9, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 146.[15] He won the fight via a triangle choke submission in the first round.[16]

As the first fight of his new, four-fight contract, Schnell faced Jordan Espinosa on August 3, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 5.[17] He won the fight via a triangle choke submission in the first round.[18] The win also earned Schnell his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[19]

Schnell faced Alexandre Pantoja on December 21, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 165.[20] He lost the fight via first-round knockout.[21]

Schnell was expected to face Tyson Nam on September 12, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183.[22] However, Schnell was removed from the fight on the day of the event's weigh-in for health issues related to his weight cut. As a result, the fight was cancelled.[23] The bout with Nam was first rescheduled to, on December 19, 2020, and then to, on January 20, 2021.[24] He won the bout by split decision.[25]

As the first fight of his new multi-fight contract, Schnell was scheduled to meet Alex Perez May 15, 2021 at UFC 262.[26] [27] However, Perez pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Rogério Bontorin.[28] At the weigh ins, Bontorin weighed in at 137 pounds, 1 pound over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Bontorin was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to Schnell.[29] Schnell lost the bout via unanimous decision.[30]

The bout with Perez was rescheduled and was expected to take place on August 28, 2021 at .[31] However, for undisclosed reason the bout was moved to .[32] However, the bout was yet again postponed for unknown reasons to UFC 269.[33] At the weigh-ins Alex Perez weighed in at 126.25 pounds, a quarter-pound over the flyweight non-title fight limit. Shortly after the weigh-ins, officials had announced that the bout had been cancelled due Schnell was forced to withdraw from the event due to a medical issue.[34] The pair was rescheduled to UFC 271 on February 12, 2022.[35] At weigh-ins, Perez came in at 128 pounds and did not attempt to try again, resulting in Matt Schnell refusing to take the catchweight bout and the bout being scrapped.[36]

Schnell faced Brandon Royval on May 7, 2022 at UFC 274.[37] He lost the back-and-forth fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.[38] The fight also won both men the Fight of the Night bonus award.[39]

Schnell faced Su Mudaerji on July 16, 2022 at UFC on ABC 3.[40] After getting hit and wobbled by multiple flush punches and elbow strikes, Schnell gained top position and came back to win the bout via technical submission with a triangle choke in the second round.[41] This win earned both fighters the Fight of the Night bonus award.[42]

Schnell faced Matheus Nicolau on December 3, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 42.[43] He lost the bout via knockout in the second round.[44]

Schnell was scheduled to face David Dvořák on June 10, 2023 at UFC 289.[45] However, Schnell pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Stephen Erceg.[46]

Schnell was scheduled to face Steve Erceg on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295.[47] However, Schnell withdrew from the bout due to unknown reasons and was replaced by Alessandro Costa.[48] He was rescheduled to face Erceg on March 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 238.[49] Schnell suffered his second consecutive knockout and lost the bout in the second round from a left-hook.[50]

Schnell is scheduled to face Alessandro Costa on September 7, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 242.[51]

Personal life

Schnell and his wife Morgan have a daughter (born 2020).[52]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Loss|align=center||Steve Erceg|KO (punch)|||align=center|2|align=center|0:26|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|16–7 (1)|Matheus Nicolau|KO (punches)|||align=center|2|align=center|1:44|Orlando, Florida, United States||-|Win|align=center|16–6 (1)|Su Mudaerji|Technical Submission (triangle choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|4:24|Elmont, New York, United States||-|Loss|align=center|15–6 (1)|Brandon Royval|Submission (guillotine choke)|UFC 274||align=center|1|align=center|2:14|Phoenix, Arizona, United States||-| NC|align=center|15–5 (1)|Rogério Bontorin|NC (overturned)|UFC 262||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Houston, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|15–5|Tyson Nam|Decision (split)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates| |-|Loss|align=center|14–5|Alexandre Pantoja|KO (punches)| ||align=center|1|align=center|4:17|Busan, South Korea| |-|Win|align=center|14–4|Jordan Espinosa|Submission (triangle choke)|||align=center|1|align=center|1:23|Newark, New Jersey, United States||-|Win|align=center|13–4|Louis Smolka|Submission (triangle choke)| ||align=center|1|align=center|3:18|Wichita, Kansas, United States||-|Win|align=center|12–4|Naoki Inoue|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Kallang, Singapore||-|Win|align=center|11–4|Marco Beltrán|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 216 ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|10–4|Hector Sandoval|KO (punches)|||align=center|1|align=center|4:24|Nashville, Tennessee, United States||-|Loss|align=center|10–3|Rob Font|KO (knee and punches)|The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale||align=center|1|align=center|3:47|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|10–2|Klayton Mai|Submission (armbar)|Legacy FC 52||align=center|1|align=center|2:14|Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States||-|Win|align=center|9–2|Jonathan Martinez|DQ (illegal knee)|Legacy FC 49||align=center|2|align=center|2:21|Bossier City, Louisiana, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–2|Vanderlei Carvalho Leite|KO (punches)|Legacy FC 42||align=center|1|align=center|0:19|Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–2|Albert Tapia |Submission (armbar)|Legacy FC: Legacy Kickboxing 2||align=center|2|align=center|3:19|Shreveport, Louisiana, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–2|Chris Myers|Submission (guillotine choke)|Caged Warrior Championship 6 ||align=center|1|align=center|0:17|Houma, Louisiana, United States||-|Win|align=center|5–2|Thomas Coleman|Submission (inverted triangle choke)|Summit FC 10||align=center|1|align=center|N/A|Tupelo, Mississippi, United States||-|Win|align=center|4–2|Latral Perdue|KO (punch)|GFA 27: The Stage||align=center|1|align=center|N/A|Bossier City, Louisiana, United States||-|Loss|align=center|3–2|Klayton Mai|Submission (guillotine choke)|Legacy FC 32| |align=center|2|align=center|1:24|Bossier City, Louisiana, United States||-|Win|align=center|3–1|Roger Reyes|Submission (guillotine choke)|WFC 17: Battle at the Belle||align=center|1|align=center|1:26|Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States||-|Loss|align=center|2–1|Elias Garcia|Decision (majority)|Legacy FC 20||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Corpus Christi, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|2–0|Marcus Dupar|Submission (armbar)|Legacy FC 15||align=center|1|align=center|1:06|Houston, Texas, United States,||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Ryan Hollis|Decision (split)|Legacy FC 14||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Houston, Texas, United States,||-[54]

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

|-|Loss|align=center|1–1| Tim Elliott| Submission (guillotine choke)| rowspan=2| | |align=center|1|align=center|3:26| rowspan=2|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–0| Matt Rizzo| Submission (triangle choke)| |align=center|2|align=center|2:04|

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matt Schnell MMA Fighter Page. 2024-03-06. Tapology.
  2. Web site: Matt Schnell UFC. UFC.com. 14 September 2018. February 16, 2021.
  3. Web site: Matt Schnell is fighting for respect at UFC Newark. Shane Connelly. August 1, 2019. thebodylockmma.com.
  4. Interview: Matt Schnell (UFC Flyweight). John Hyon Ko. July 17, 2019.
  5. Web site: Matt Schnell on UFC Busan fight vs. Alexandre Pantoja: 'I either spark this kid, or it's 'Fight of the Night. Farah Hannoun. MMAjunkie.com. November 23, 2019.
  6. Web site: UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions UFC.com . 2024-07-30. www.ufc.com.
  7. Web site: III. Roy Lang. Former Shreve student's UFC dreams begin Wednesday. 2021-12-08. The Times. en-US.
  8. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/1/Joseph-Benavidez-Henry-Cejudo-to-Serve-as-Coaches-on-The-Ultimate-Fighter-24-104813 Joseph Benavidez e Henry Cejudo são escolhidos para servir como treinadores no 'The Ultimate Fighter 24'
  9. Web site: 'TUF 24' Recap: Episode 10. Sherdog.com. Mike Sloan. 16 November 2016. 26 November 2016.
  10. Web site: Fowlkes . Ben . TUF 24 Finale results: Rob Font wastes Matt Schnell with front kick, knee, ground-and-pound . mmajunkie.usatoday.com . 13 April 2022 . 3 December 2016.
  11. Web site: Marrocco . Steven . UFC Fight Night 108 results: Risky Hector Sandoval finishes Matt Schnell with hammerfists . mmajunkie.usatoday.com . 13 April 2022 . 22 April 2017.
  12. News: UFC 216 results: Matt Schnell outworks Marco Beltran for decision and much-needed win. 2017-10-08. MMAjunkie. 2017-10-08. en-US.
  13. Web site: Ovince St. Preux vs. Tyson Pedro, Two Other Bouts Booked for UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2018-04-15.
  14. News: UFC Fight Night 132 results: Matt Schnell counters his way to split over Naoki Inoue. 2018-06-23. MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. en-US.
  15. Web site: Louis Smolka vs. Matt Schnell toegevoegd aan UFC Wichita. DNA. MMA. 2 February 2019. en-US. 2019-02-02.
  16. Web site: Highlights! Smolka Gets Choked Out By 'Danger' At UFC Wichita. Hiergesell. Dan. 2019-03-09. MMAmania.com. 2019-03-10.
  17. Web site: Matt Schnell vs. Jordan Espinosa slated for UFC on ESPN 5. Cole Shelton. 2019-06-13. sherdog.com. 2019-06-13.
  18. Web site: UFC Newark Results: Matt Schnell Triangles Jordan Espinosa in First Round. Fortune. Ryan. 2019-08-03. Cageside Press. en-US. 2019-08-04.
  19. Web site: UFC Newark bonus winners: Nasrat Haqparast's vicious KO leads $50K winners. 2019-08-03. mmamania.com. 2019-08-03.
  20. Web site: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Matt Schnell set for UFC Fight Night 165 in South Korea. Shelton. Cole. 2019-09-04. sherdog.com. 2019-09-04.
  21. Web site: UFC Busan Results: Alexandre Pantoja Knocks Out Matt Schnell In First. admincsp. 2019-12-21. Cageside Press. en-US. 2019-12-22.
  22. Web site: 2020-07-03. Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam joins UFC's September 12 lineup. 2020-07-22. MMA Junkie. Farah Hannoun. en.
  23. Web site: Weight-cutting issues scrap Tyson Nam from Matt Schnell fight at UFC on ESPN+ 35. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2020-09-11. 2020-09-11.
  24. Web site: UFC books Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam for Dec. 19 event in Las Vegas. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2020-10-25. 2020-10-25.
  25. Web site: UFC Fight Island 8 Results: Matt Schnell Turns Up the Volume Against Tyson Nam. cagesidepress. Jay Anderson. 2021-01-20. 2021-01-20.
  26. Web site: DNA. MMA. 2021-02-21. BREAKING: Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 15 mei. 2021-02-22. MMA DNA. en-US.
  27. Matt Schnell previews UFC 262 fight, says he wants Alex Perez rebooked. April 29, 2021. MMAjunkie.com. Farah Hannoun. YouTube.
  28. Web site: 2021-04-21. With Alex Perez out, Rogerio Bontorin targeted to fight Matt Schnell at UFC 262. 2021-04-22. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  29. Web site: UFC 262 weigh-in results: Michael Chandler, Charles Oliveira on point for vacant lightweight championship main event. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-05-14. 2021-05-14.
  30. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2021-05-15. UFC 262 Results: Rogerio Bontorin Gets Past Matt Schnell With Late Surge. 2021-05-16. Cageside Press. en-US.
  31. Web site: Dorff. Marcel. 2021-07-08. Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell wederom geboekt, ditmaal voor UFC evenement op 28 augustus. 2021-07-08. MMA DNA. en-US.
  32. Web site: ATSteveDuncan. 2021-08-07. Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell reprogramado para UFC Fight Night del 4 de septiembre. 2021-08-07. MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español.. es.
  33. Web site: King. Kristen. 2021-09-20. Fights on Tap: Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3 among 15 UFC bouts announced. 2021-09-29. Bloody Elbow. en.
  34. Web site: Alexander K. Lee. 2021-12-10. UFC 269 weigh-in results: Charles Oliveira, Amanda Nunes, challengers on weight for title fights, one bout cancelled. mmafighting.com. 2021-12-10.
  35. Web site: Sherdog.com. Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell Rescheduled for UFC 271 in Houston. 2022-01-04. Sherdog.
  36. Web site: 2022-02-11. Matt Schnell explains difficult decision to turn down fight after opponent missed weight at UFC 271. 2022-02-11. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  37. Web site: Martin. Damon. 2022-02-24. Brandon Royval vs. Matt Schnell added to UFC 274. 2022-02-25. MMA Fighting. en.
  38. Web site: Behunin . Alex . 2022-05-07 . UFC 274: Brandon Royval Taps Matt Schnell In A Wild Two Minute Scrap . 2022-05-08 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  39. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-05-08 . UFC 274: Chandler, Fialho Earn Performance of the Night Bonuses . 2022-05-08 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  40. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-06-01 . UFC Long Island Set to Air on ABC, Multiple Fights Announced for July 16 Event . 2022-06-02 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  41. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-07-16 . UFC Long Island: Matt Schnell Secures Brilliant Comeback Win Over Su Mudaerji . 2022-07-17 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  42. Web site: UFC Long Island post-fight bonuses: Matt Schnell's all-time comeback nets him $50,000. bloodyelbow.com. Kristen King. 2022-07-16. 2022-07-16.
  43. Web site: 2022-08-04 . UFC adds Matt Schnell vs. Matheus Nicolau to Dec. 3 lineup . 2022-08-04 . Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. MMA Junkie . en-US.
  44. Web site: Anderson . Jay . UFC Orlando: Matheus Nicolau Scores Multiple Knockdowns, Finishes Matt Schnell . Cageside Press . 5 December 2022 . 4 December 2022.
  45. Web site: Sherdog.com . UFC 289 Update: Matt Schnell vs. David Dvorak Joins June 10 Lineup . 2023-03-30 . Sherdog . en.
  46. Web site: Stephen Erceg debut now set for UFC 289 vs David Dvorak after Schnell pulls out. itnwwe.com. Vipin Raghuwanshi. 2023-05-31. 2023-06-01.
  47. Web site: Sherdog.com . Derek Brunson vs. Roman Dolidze, Matt Schnell vs. Steve Erceg Confirmed for UFC 295 . 2023-09-07 . Sherdog . en.
  48. Web site: Desk. ITN News . 2023-10-28 . UFC 295: Matt Schnell Out, Alessandro Costa Faces Steve Erceg . 2023-10-29 . www.itnwwe.com . en-US.
  49. Web site: Sherdog.com . Steve Erceg, Matt Schnell Rebooked for UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2 . 2024-02-05 . Sherdog . en.
  50. Web site: UFC Vegas 87: Flyweight Steve Erceg Scores One-Punch KO Of Matt Schnell. casesidepress.com. Jay Anderson. 2024-03-02. 2024-03-02.
  51. Web site: Top 10 UFC Flyweights Jessica Andrade, Natalia Silva to Fight on Sept. 7. cagesidepress.com. Bryson Hester. 2024-06-30. 2024-06-30.
  52. Web site: Matt Schnell Is Focused On Wins, Not Statements. January 18, 2021. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Zac Pacleb.
  53. News: Lee . Alexander . UFC on ESPN 5 bonuses: Antonina Shevchenko, Lucie Pudilova snag Fight of the Night . . 2019-08-03 . 2019-08-03 .
  54. Web site: Matt. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2019-12-22.

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