Matthew Christopher Schnell (born January 15, 1990) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) until 2024.[6] Schnell formerly competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Champion.

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 The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions 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 UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov. 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.[2][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 UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal, on December 19, 2020, and then to UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny, 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 UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze.[31] However, for undisclosed reason the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till.[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 was scheduled to face Alessandro Costa on September 7, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 242.[51] However, in under one week before the event, Costa withdrew from the bout due to a shoulder injury and was replaced by Cody Durden in a bantamweight bout.[52] Schnell lost the fight via a ninja choke submission in the second round.[53] Following the bout, Schnell left his gloves in the center of the octagon signaling his retirement from MMA.[6]

Personal life

Schnell and his wife Morgan have a daughter (born 2020).[54]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
26 matches 16 wins 9 losses
By knockout 2 5
By submission 9 3
By decision 4 1
By disqualification 1 0
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 16–9 (1) Cody Durden Submission (ninja choke) UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady September 7, 2024 2 0:29 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Bantamweight bout.
Loss 16–8 (1) Steve Erceg KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev March 2, 2024 2 0:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 16–7 (1) Matheus Nicolau KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland December 3, 2022 2 1:44 Orlando, Florida, United States
Win 16–6 (1) Su Mudaerji Technical Submission (triangle choke) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez July 16, 2022 2 4:24 Elmont, New York, United States Fight of the Night.
Loss 15–6 (1) Brandon Royval Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 274 May 7, 2022 1 2:14 Phoenix, Arizona, United States Fight of the Night.
NC 15–5 (1) Rogério Bontorin NC (overturned) UFC 262 May 15, 2021 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States Bantamweight bout; Bontorin missed weight (137 lb). Originally a unanimous decision win for Bontorin; overturned after he tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide.
Win 15–5 Tyson Nam Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny January 20, 2021 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss 14–5 Alexandre Pantoja KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie December 21, 2019 1 4:17 Busan, South Korea
Win 14–4 Jordan Espinosa Submission (triangle choke) UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler August 3, 2019 1 1:23 Newark, New Jersey, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 13–4 Louis Smolka Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos March 9, 2019 1 3:18 Wichita, Kansas, United States Bantamweight bout.
Win 12–4 Naoki Inoue Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards June 23, 2018 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 11–4 Marco Beltrán Decision (unanimous) UFC 216 October 7, 2017 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 10–4 Hector Sandoval KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov April 22, 2017 1 4:24 Nashville, Tennessee, United States Return to Flyweight.
Loss 10–3 Rob Font KO (knee and punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale December 3, 2016 1 3:47 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Bantamweight debut.
Win 10–2 Klayton Mai Submission (armbar) Legacy FC 52 March 25, 2016 1 2:14 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Won the interim Legacy FC Flyweight Championship.
Win 9–2 Jonathan Martinez DQ (illegal knee) Legacy FC 49 December 4, 2015 2 2:21 Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Win 8–2 Vanderlei Carvalho Leite KO (punches) Legacy FC 42 June 26, 2015 1 0:19 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
Win 7–2 Albert Tapia Submission (armbar) Legacy FC: Legacy Kickboxing 2 May 29, 2015 2 3:19 Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Win 6–2 Chris Myers Submission (guillotine choke) Caged Warrior Championship 6 February 21, 2015 1 0:17 Houma, Louisiana, United States
Win 5–2 Thomas Coleman Submission (inverted triangle choke) Summit FC 10 November 22, 2014 1 N/A Tupelo, Mississippi, United States
Win 4–2 Latral Perdue KO (punch) GFA 27: The Stage September 19, 2014 1 N/A Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Loss 3–2 Klayton Mai Submission (guillotine choke) Legacy FC 32 June 20, 2014 2 1:24 Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Win 3–1 Roger Reyes Submission (guillotine choke) WFC 17: Battle at the Belle January 25, 2014 1 1:26 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Loss 2–1 Elias Garcia Decision (majority) Legacy FC 20 May 31, 2013 3 5:00 Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
Win 2–0 Marcus Dupar Submission (armbar) Legacy FC 15 November 16, 2012 1 1:06 Houston, Texas, United States,
Win 1–0 Ryan Hollis Decision (split) Legacy FC 14 September 14, 2012 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States, Flyweight debut.

[61]

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Tim Elliott Submission (guillotine choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions November 16, 2016 1 3:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 24 Quarter-final round
Win 1–0 Matt Rizzo Submission (triangle choke) October 5, 2016 2 2:04 TUF 24 Round of 16

*Date given is the air date of the episode. The actual dates of the fight are not released by the UFC

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Matt Schnell MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  2. ^ a b Shane Connelly (August 1, 2019). "Matt Schnell is fighting for respect at UFC Newark". thebodylockmma.com.
  3. ^ John Hyon Ko (July 17, 2019). "Interview: Matt Schnell (UFC Flyweight)" (Podcast).
  4. ^ Farah Hannoun (November 23, 2019). "Matt Schnell on UFC Busan fight vs. Alexandre Pantoja: 'I either spark this kid, or it's 'Fight of the Night'". MMAjunkie.com.
  5. ^ a b "Matt Schnell | UFC". UFC.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Mike Bohn and MMA Junkie Staff (2024-09-07). "2024 MMA retirement tracker: A list of those who hung up the gloves". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  7. ^ III, Roy Lang. "Former Shreve student's UFC dreams begin Wednesday". The Times. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  8. ^ Joseph Benavidez e Henry Cejudo são escolhidos para servir como treinadores no 'The Ultimate Fighter 24'
  9. ^ Mike Sloan (16 November 2016). "'TUF 24' Recap: Episode 10". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  10. ^ Fowlkes, Ben (3 December 2016). "TUF 24 Finale results: Rob Font wastes Matt Schnell with front kick, knee, ground-and-pound". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  11. ^ Marrocco, Steven (22 April 2017). "UFC Fight Night 108 results: Risky Hector Sandoval finishes Matt Schnell with hammerfists". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  12. ^ "UFC 216 results: Matt Schnell outworks Marco Beltran for decision and much-needed win". MMAjunkie. 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  13. ^ Sherdog.com. "Ovince St. Preux vs. Tyson Pedro, Two Other Bouts Booked for UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  14. ^ "UFC Fight Night 132 results: Matt Schnell counters his way to split over Naoki Inoue". MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  15. ^ DNA, MMA (2 February 2019). "Louis Smolka vs. Matt Schnell toegevoegd aan UFC Wichita". Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  16. ^ Hiergesell, Dan (2019-03-09). "Highlights! Smolka Gets Choked Out By 'Danger' At UFC Wichita". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  17. ^ Cole Shelton (2019-06-13). "Matt Schnell vs. Jordan Espinosa slated for UFC on ESPN 5". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
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  19. ^ "UFC Newark bonus winners: Nasrat Haqparast's vicious KO leads $50K winners". mmamania.com. 2019-08-03. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
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  23. ^ Staff (2020-09-11). "Weight-cutting issues scrap Tyson Nam from Matt Schnell fight at UFC on ESPN+ 35". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  24. ^ Nolan King (2020-10-25). "UFC books Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam for Dec. 19 event in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.[permanent dead link‍]
  25. ^ Jay Anderson (2021-01-20). "UFC Fight Island 8 Results: Matt Schnell Turns Up the Volume Against Tyson Nam". cagesidepress. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  26. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-02-21). "BREAKING: Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 15 mei". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  27. ^ Farah Hannoun (April 29, 2021). Matt Schnell previews UFC 262 fight, says he wants Alex Perez rebooked. MMAjunkie.com – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "With Alex Perez out, Rogerio Bontorin targeted to fight Matt Schnell at UFC 262". MMA Junkie. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  29. ^ Alexander K. Lee (2021-05-14). "UFC 262 weigh-in results: Michael Chandler, Charles Oliveira on point for vacant lightweight championship main event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  30. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-05-15). "UFC 262 Results: Rogerio Bontorin Gets Past Matt Schnell With Late Surge". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  31. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-07-08). "Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell wederom geboekt, ditmaal voor UFC evenement op 28 augustus". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  32. ^ ATSteveDuncan (2021-08-07). "Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell reprogramado para UFC Fight Night del 4 de septiembre". MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  33. ^ King, Kristen (2021-09-20). "Fights on Tap: Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3 among 15 UFC bouts announced". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
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  37. ^ Martin, Damon (2022-02-24). "Brandon Royval vs. Matt Schnell added to UFC 274". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  38. ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-05-07). "UFC 274: Brandon Royval Taps Matt Schnell In A Wild Two Minute Scrap". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  39. ^ a b Anderson, Jay (2022-05-08). "UFC 274: Chandler, Fialho Earn Performance of the Night Bonuses". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  40. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-06-01). "UFC Long Island Set to Air on ABC, Multiple Fights Announced for July 16 Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
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  42. ^ a b Kristen King (2022-07-16). "UFC Long Island post-fight bonuses: Matt Schnell's all-time comeback nets him $50,000". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  43. ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2022-08-04). "UFC adds Matt Schnell vs. Matheus Nicolau to Dec. 3 lineup". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  44. ^ Anderson, Jay (4 December 2022). "UFC Orlando: Matheus Nicolau Scores Multiple Knockdowns, Finishes Matt Schnell". Cageside Press. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  45. ^ Sherdog.com. "UFC 289 Update: Matt Schnell vs. David Dvorak Joins June 10 Lineup". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  46. ^ Vipin Raghuwanshi (2023-05-31). "Stephen Erceg debut now set for UFC 289 vs David Dvorak after Schnell pulls out". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  47. ^ Sherdog.com. "Derek Brunson vs. Roman Dolidze, Matt Schnell vs. Steve Erceg Confirmed for UFC 295". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  48. ^ Desk, ITN News (2023-10-28). "UFC 295: Matt Schnell Out, Alessandro Costa Faces Steve Erceg". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-10-29. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  49. ^ Sherdog.com. "Steve Erceg, Matt Schnell Rebooked for UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  50. ^ Jay Anderson (2024-03-02). "UFC Vegas 87: Flyweight Steve Erceg Scores One-Punch KO Of Matt Schnell". casesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  51. ^ Bryson Hester (2024-06-30). "Top 10 UFC Flyweights Jessica Andrade, Natalia Silva to Fight on Sept. 7". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  52. ^ Damon Martin (2024-09-03). "Alessandro Costa off of UFC Vegas 97, Matt Schnell now faces Cody Durden". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  53. ^ Eddie Law (2024-09-07). "Cody Durden Brawls, Catches Anaconda Choke For Win". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  54. ^ Zac Pacleb (January 18, 2021). "Matt Schnell Is Focused On Wins, Not Statements". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  55. ^ Lee, Alexander (2019-08-03). "UFC on ESPN 5 bonuses: Antonina Shevchenko, Lucie Pudilova snag Fight of the Night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  56. ^ Mike Bohn (2024-09-03). "UFC Fight Night 242 pre-event facts: Ovince Saint Preux can inch closer to Jon Jones' records". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  57. ^ UFC Staff (2023-01-16). "Dana White's UFC 2022 President's Choice Award Winners - UFC Honors". ufc.com. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  58. ^ MMAWeekly.com Staff (2022-12-29). "UFC Honors: Nominees for UFC Comeback of the Year announced - Video". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  59. ^ Thomas Gerbasi (December 23, 2022). "The Fights | 2022 UFC.com Awards". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  60. ^ Thomas Gerbasi; E. Spencer Kyte (December 21, 2022). "The Submissions | 2022 UFC.com Awards". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  61. ^ Sherdog.com. "Matt". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Schnell_(fighter)
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