The Weight Cutting Chronicles: UFC Fight Island 8

Matt Schnell UFC
Matt Schnell Credit: Mike Straus/Cageside Press

Matt “Danger” Schnell (14-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC)

Flyweight (125lbs): 3-2 (UFC), TUF 24 Compettior

Bantamweight (135lbs): 1-1 (UFC)

Matt Schnell is a veteran of  The Ultimate Fighter Season 24, in which, he competed in the flyweight division. However, for Schnell’s first fight in the UFC, he competed at 135lbs, though he was defeated by Rob Font. After moving back down to flyweight, Schnell stayed there until March of 2019, when he defeated Louis Smolka in the bantamweight division before returning to flyweight for his next fights.

Schnell saw his weight cut go wrong for his fight against Tyson Nam in September of 2020, and their bout was forced to be canceled. According to an article by MMAFighting’s Damon Martin: apparently, only a few pounds away from 126lbs, Schnell collapsed on the scale. At that point, he was taken to the hospital and the fight was cancelled. It’s also worth noting that it was Schnell’s first attempt at cutting to 125lbs in close to a year and he is now 31 years old. Schnell also has a very long frame at 5’8″ with a 72.5″ reach.