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 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 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 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] The pair was rescheduled on March 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 238.[49] Schnell suffered his second consecutive knockout and lost in the second round from a left-hook.[50]
Personal life
Schnell and his wife Morgan have a daughter (born 2020).[51]
Bantamweight bout; Bontorin missed weight (137 lb). Originally a unanimous decision win for Bontorin; overturned after he tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide.