With the UFC’s flyweight division seemingly revived, Matt Schnell is moving back down to 125 for a shot to enter title contention.
Schnell (13-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) meets Jordan Espinosa (14-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 5, which takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The entire card airs on ESPN.
And with a clearer picture on the flyweight division’s future, and the UFC’s intent to keep it, Schnell believes a win Saturday should catapult him to top-contender status, especially since he’s looking to stay active.
“I expect a quick turnaround, and I was told to expect a quick turnaround regardless what happens (Saturday),” Schnell recently told MMA Junkie Radio (go to the 1:05:25 mark in the video above). “I’ve got Jordan Espinosa in front of me. It’s difficult to look past that, but I will say this: (The) flyweight division, it’s not a very deep division, and who else is on a four-fight win streak in the division, saying I get past Jordan Espinosa? The pool is shallow, so I’m in the mix. It starts with a good performance, so I’ve prepared myself. I feel very good.”
Schnell has won three straight fights. He submitted Louis Smolka in the first round at UFC on ESPN+ 4 in his most recent outing at bantamweight since he was unsure of the division’s future in the UFC.
After his tenure on Season 24 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Schnell dropped his first two official UFC fights. But now, he’s enjoying the best run in his UFC career.
“I’ve grown up in this sport,” Schnell said. “I used to be the young guy on the mat, and now I’m not the young guy on the mat anymore. So things come full circle when you stick to it and persist.”
Bouncing around multiple gyms throughout his career, Schnell spent this training camp in California. Having previously trained at American Top Team, he said he made the change for personal reasons – he got married in Houston and wanted to be closer to home.
“I did this camp in Northern California at Combat Sports Academy,” Schnell said. “Also American Kickboxing Academy, two days a week. I go on the grapple days – they grapple on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“I try not to slam the door on these places and American Top Team treated me really well and it was more of a different time in my life thing than anything else.”
MMA Junkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Dan Tom. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio. You can also check out www.siriusxm.com/siriusxmfightnation.
