While that career has been a dream, he’s expanding his dream in the world of MMA as well. In addition to his work in the cage, he’s stepping outside to do some work for American Kombat Alliance (AKA) out of his home state of Louisiana. When the promotion first started, he started commentating for them, but has since expanded into working as the matchmaker. That’s work that has been extremely rewarding to him.

“It is some of the most fulfilling work I’ve done within martial arts is as a matchmaker,” Schnell shared. “Watching these guys go out there and compete.”

The best part of the job is seeing things come together. While he loves to play analyst and try to figure out what’s going to happen, it’s always a surprise.

“In the grand scheme of things, the best part about matchmaking is just when they come together. Even with all of my experience – and I do believe I’m quite competent and I have an eye for understanding who’s going to go out there and let it rip, who’s going to go out there and bang event after event – I am so surprised,” he explained. “I’m as surprised as everybody else there about what just happened. You put together fights that you know they’re going to be good fights, but I like to put together fights that I’m not sure who’s going to win it. And still in my mind’s eye, I try to work it out. So often, so often I am completely wrong.”

 

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While he’s loving the process, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The work getting fighters at the beginning of their careers to test themselves can sometimes be arduous.

“It is hard to get two knuckleheads to agree to fight each other. I’m telling you, for various reasons, guys have coaches and people that they trust to make the best decision for them,” he said. “I genuinely do believe oftentimes they believe they’re looking out for their fighter, but you’re not looking out for a guy if you’re trying to protect his record – especially as an amateur, there is no gamesmanship.”

Schnell will put that work aside for Saturday as he steps back into the cage to face late-replacement Alessandro Costa. That fight takes place on the main card of UFC Vegas 118, which starts this Saturday at 5pm EST on Paramount+.

The post UFC Vegas 118’s Matt Schnell: The Matchmaker appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this UFC Vegas 118 edition of TTP is our interview with UFC flyweight, Matt Schnell. Schnell talks about his work outside of the cage for AKA MMA. In addition to doing commentary for them at their events, he’s stepped into a matchmaking role as well. He discusses the highs and lows of that job and why it can be more rewarding than anything. Plus, we chat about his prep work for his fight this weekend.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This interview was recorded prior to his recent opponent change.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC Vegas 118 (14:59)

We head back to the Apex for UFC Vegas 118 – headlined by former champion Belal Muhammad as he defends his spot in the rankings against Gabriel Bonfim. In the co-main event, Brendan Allen faces Edmen Shahbazyan in a middleweight tilt. We’ll break down those fights as well as some of our other favorite fights on the main card. Plus, as always, we’re hitting you with an underdog and a plus-money parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Brian Manning Interview (21:44)

Closing out this UFC Vegas 118 edition of TTP is our interview with Oktagon middleweight, Brian Manning. Manning talks playing spoiler in his Oktagon debut and getting a chance to do so again in his sophomore effort. Plus, he talks about his love for horror and ranks his top three favorite horror flicks.

Lisa Kyriacou Interview (32:34)

Closing out this UFC Vegas 118 edition of TTP is our interview with Oktagon flyweight, Lisa Kyriacou. Kyraicou also fights this weekend at Oktagon 89 and shares how she came to work with the promotion. Plus, she discusses representing Australia on a big stage and facing a fan-favorite in enemy territory.

The post TTP Ep. 534: Matt Schnell, Brian Manning, Lisa Kyriacou, and UFC Vegas 118 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this UFC Macau edition of TTP is our interview with UFC welterweight, Khaos Williams. Williams chats about where he was mentally going into UFC Vegas 117 following a pair of defeats. Then he chats about the fight itself. After scoring a big knockout over Nikolay Veretennikov at that event, he is looking to build on that momentum. However, he shares some news about why we might need to wait a bit before we see that building. He also shares some names that he’d like to see next and when we might see him get back in that cage.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC Macau (14:50)

After an off week, the UFC returns with a card in China. UFC Macau is headlined by Song Yadong as he looks to make a statement against a former champion in Deiveson Figueiredo. Plus, in the co-main event, Zhang Mingyang makes his comeback after being injured in a fight with Johnny Walker. Alonzo Menifield will look to spoil that homecoming. We’ll break down those fights as well as some of our other favorite fights on the main card. Plus, as always, we’re hitting you with an underdog and a plus-money parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Matt Adams Interview (20:03)

Closing out this UFC Macau edition of TTP is our interview with Dana White Contender Series heavyweight, Matt Adams. Adams discusses his past training and how he kicked it up a notch coming into this training camp. With his eyes set at 205lbs, he is in the best shape of his life, but is fully locked in on a fight at heavyweight. He gets the call to fight on the first episode of this year’s DWCS on August 11th.

The post TTP Ep. 533: Khaos Williams, Matt Adams, and UFC Macau appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this edition of TTP is our interview with Road to UFC flyweight, Joseph Larcinese. Larcinese chats about his run to the Eternal MMA title and his win over Dana White’s Contender Series veteran, Anthony Drilich. Plus, he chats about getting the call to fight on Road to UFC and shares his feelings about how much you can look at a bracket in a tournament. Plus, he digs into the origins of his fight name “Big Sexy” and breaks down his first round fight with Ryoga Arimoto.

Combat Countdown: Top 5 Comebacks We Wouldn’t Mind (16:15)

With Road to UFC and UFC Macau not until next week, we brought back the Combat Countdown for this week. In honor of Ronda Rousey coming out of retirement for her MVP MMA figth, we’re taking a look at comebacks. We’re counting down the top five comebacks that we wouldn’t mind seeing in the next year. We not only talk about who we’d like to see comeback, but we play fantasy matchmaker for their pretend return. Nobody ever really stays retired in this sport, so check out this list and tell us if you think we hit it out of the park or botched it badly. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Cameron Smotherman Interview (26:36)

Closing out this Road to UFC edition of TTP is our interview with UFC bantamweight, Cameron Smotherman. After a victorious debut in the UFC, Smotherman ran into a couple of tough fights back-to-back. While he learned a lot about himself in those fights, he learned even more from a year outside of the cage. He’s taken some time away to heel, grow and add a few new wrinkles to his game. Now he looks to show the new version of “The Baby-Faced Killa” at UFC Macau when he takes on Kai Asakura.

The post TTP Ep. 532: Joseph Larcinese, Cameron Smotherman, and Top 5 Comebacks We Wouldn’t Mind appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this UFC Vegas 117 edition of TTP is our interview with UFC lightweigt, Trey Ogden. Ogden discusses the injury that cost him his last fight and his three-fight winning streak. While the halted momentum was frustrating, he shares how it gave him a chance to sink everything into his coaching at Marathon MMA. With that positive mindset, he looks to move forward and get back where he knows he belongs.

Editor’s note: Just before this episode was recorded, Ogden unfortunately had to pull out of his fight this weekend. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope you all enjoy the interview anyways.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC Vegas 117 (23:00)

After a big numbered event this past weekend, the UFC heads home to the Apex in Vegas for UFC Vegas 117. Headlining the card is a featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa. Plus, in the co-main event Doo Ho Choi returns to take on Daniel Santos.  We’ll break down those fights as well as some of our other favorite fights on the main card. Plus, as always, we’re hitting you with an underdog and a plus-money parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Roybert Echeverria Interview (30:34)

Closing out this UFC Vegas 117 edition of TTP is our interview with Fury FC flyweight, Roybert Echeverria. After coming out of the Ultimate Fighter house, Echeverria discusses the pros and cons of the reality television track. Plus, he talks about getting back in action with some Karate Combat action and then eventually getting the call to fight for Fury FC’s flyweight title. He’ll face Paris Moran this Sunday at Fury FC 119 with a chance to take that next step towards where he belongs.

The post TTP Ep. 531: Trey Ogden, Roybert Echeverria, and UFC Vegas 117 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“There’s tons of miles on my body and I do understand that it’s like, hey, if something stupid happens and I blow out my knee or I blow out my shoulder, at this point, I’m not coming back from that,” Miller said. “I’ve been lucky enough to keep those types of injuries away. The plan is to continue to do that and to train intelligently – try to really maximize what I have left and do the right things.”

And to Miller, there is really no rhyme or reason as to when people go down hurt. You could be in phenomenal shape and doing something silly and miss out on time. That’s a consideration that he keeps in mind.

“I’ve seen guys that I’ve trained with, their careers get shortened or their careers get paused because of nonsense injuries, right? One of my training partners a couple of years ago tore his Achilles playing flag football,” he recalled. “Absolute stud, undefeated, one of my best training partners and he sidelined for a year because he was cold and playing flag football, right? So it’s like something like that could happen at any time.”

Despite those things always lurking around him, Miller has been mostly healthy throughout his career. The secret for that fact? Miller says that it’s more simple than you realize.

“There probably is a secret. I should probably shut up,” Miller said with a laugh. “No, honestly, I think it’s just that I’ve always focused my training around, not that I fight conservatively, but nobody likes getting hit, right? You don’t want to absorb it. So my training style, my striking style is always, I try to keep my hands up and, and keep my head between my hands so that I’m not getting caught outside my guard.”

He also attributes some of his toughness to his upbringing. Not only has it helped him to stay healthy and not get hurt, but it’s also helped him stay in fights – having only been finished in five fights over a career like his.

“I think honestly – it’s my upbringing. As a kid, we were just doing stupid stuff. We learned how to take falls and we’ve learned how to dust yourself off and get back up,” he said. “In those fights I’ve never looked for the way out. I’ve always had in my head, even the times where I have been finished – there’s gotta be a way out of this.”

His next chance to take a step towards that elusive goal comes at UFC 328, which taked place this Saturday. Miller will take on Jared Gordon as part of the prelim portion of the card. The card starts at 5pm EST and will air on Paramount+.

The post UFC 328’s Jim Miller Shares Keys to Longevity appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this UFC 328 edition of TTP is our interview with UFC lightweigt, Jim Miller. Miller discusses whether there is a secret sauce as to why he can keep going at his age and, if there is, what is it. Plus, he talks about his time out of the cage and getting the call to fight close to home yet again. Then he breaks down his fight with Jared Gordon for this Saturday and gives us a quick prediction.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC 328 (20:58)

The UFC stays on the road this week, but heads back to the US. UFC 328 comes to us from Newark, New Jersey with a pair of title fights at the top of the card. First, Joshua Van makes the first defense of his flyweight belt when he faces Tatsuro Taira. Then, in the main event, Khamzat Chimaev defends the middleweight belt against former champion Sean Strickland. We’ll break down those fights as well as some of our other favorite fights on the main card. Plus, as always, we’re hitting you with an underdog and a plus-money parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Grant Dawson Interview (26:50)

Closing out this UFC 328 edition of TTP is our interview with UFC lightweight, Grant Dawson. Dawson discusses the adage that we either win or we learn and how he feels like there isn’t much to take away from the losses that he has had. Then, we dig into the fun stylistic matchup that is Mateusz Rębecki. The two of them both love to grapple and have been in their fair share of wars as well. Dawson gives us his thoughts on how he expects the fight to go and what might come next for him.

The post TTP Ep. 530: Jim Miller, Grant Dawson, and UFC 328 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I switched to management and within like three weeks of working with my new manager he was like ‘hey, I know we’re still kind of like getting to know each other, but I want to know how you feel about PFL as an option,” Bowers recalled, “At this point I am open to anything bigger and better, so he presented me with the opportunity.”

Not only is the option bigger than where she was, but Bowers believes that the 125lbs division in PFL might be as good as anywhere. She’s excited for the challenges on the way – especially the one at the top.

“It’s a step-up – there’s a ton of really good girls in the PFL. Within the next year to two years I would love to fight Dakota [Ditcheva],” she said. “I don’t think it’s really any different in my eyes compared to the UFC. I feel like it’s very well-rounded and it has a deep 125 pool right now.”

It’s not only flyweight kingpin Dakota Ditcheva that has her interested. When looking up and down the division, Bowers sees plenty of exciting matchups as well as fighters she looks up to.

“I actually just noticed yesterday they added another girl fight to the Sioux Falls card with Talia Santos on it. I’ve always been a huge fan of hers even before she fought Valentina for the the UFC belt. Super pumped to see that in person,” Bowers said. “Other girls like Jenna Bishop and Angela Hill I’ve always like been googly-eyed in love with – they’re just such cool fighters. So to know that I’m in the same pool as Jenna Bishop is super awesome because I’m a big jiu-jitsu girl.”

However, it’s not just the existing stars that makes PFL’s flyweight division so good. Their commitment to grabbing the top upcoming talent in the division also gives it real growth potential.

“Overall like there’s a lot of up-and-comers like myself that are that are entering the division a lot of girls that are undefeated like 6-0, 7-0 somewhere like that,” she said. “There’s a lot of rising talent that I think we’re going to see kind of explode over the next year or two.”

Bowers will get her first crack at one of those undefeated names when she faces Sabrinna de Sousa at PFL Sioux Falls. That fight takes place as part of the prelim portion of the card, which begins at 7pm EST this Saturday on ESPN 2.

The post PFL Sioux Falls’ Cheyanne Bowers: PFL 125ers as Good as Anywhere appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I was always kind of like an ultra ADHD kid that could never like sit still in the classroom and could never really focus on what was happening in front of me. Then when I walked into an MMA gym, did my first few classes there, I was hooked. It felt like the first time I could ever fully focus in my life,” he explained. “I could just feel myself get better every session in a way that I’d never felt myself with anything else before in my life. I’d played football. I’d played cricket. I was never like a talented guy, nor was I a guy that could like sit down and really learn what they were like trying to teach me. Then with MMA, it was completely different. It was like everything that these people are telling me, I feel like I’m absorbing. I feel like I’m a sponge for this. I made it my purpose from then on.”

That mentality shift and having a purpose changed everything for Mar Fan. He shared that there was never a plan B after that point and it was all arrows pointing in the same direction. However, his first fight definitely didn’t help that trajectory and further made him an underdog to the people watching him.

“I started my MMA amateur career with a 10-second knockout loss. From then on, I was the underdog. So it’s become an area I’m very comfortable being in,” Mar Fan revealed. “I’m very comfortable with people kind of doubting me – assuming that I’m weaker in areas than I actually am. So yeah, I carry that all the way through my career.”

That moment, while it didn’t help his public image, did fuel his mentality moving forward. He embraced the idea of the doubters and the idea of winning as many as he could over to his side.

“It was definitely disheartening at first, and it’s one of those cool things nowadays because I did have people at the time say, ‘hey, this is going to be a really cool story one day when you make it,” he said. “At that point in time, there was no one other than myself that really thought I was going to make it. So it’s been cool, each fight, being able to sway a few more people to my side and then sway a few more people after that to my side. Then eventually it’s going to get to the point one day where there’s no one in the world that doubts me, and everyone is going to just assume that I’m going to win.”

He started moving more over to his side during the Road to UFC – winning in the first round of the tournament as a +350 underdog. Now he looks to continue his winning ways as an underdog when he takes on Kody Steele at UFC Perth. That fight takes place on the prelims of the fight card, which starts at 4am EST on Paramount+.

The post UFC Perth’s Dom Mar Fan Embraces Doubters, Vows to Win Them Over appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this UFC Perth edition of TTP is our interview with UFC middleweight, Dom Mar Fan. Mar Fan discussed the Road to UFC and how his career has been changed by the tournament. Plus, he digs into his feeling about doubters and getting to debut in his home country. Then we talk about the specifics of his fight with Kody Steele on Saturday.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC Perth (16:27)

The UFC heads down under for a fight card loaded with talent. In the main event, Jack Della Maddalena looks to put himself back in the title picture as he faces Carlos Prates. Plus, Quillan Salkilld will look to leap forward at lightweight when he faces Beneil Dariush.  We’ll break down those fights as well as some of our other favorite fights on the main card. Plus, as always, we’re hitting you with an underdog and a plus-money parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Cam Rowston Interview (22:28)

Closing out this UFC Perth edition of TTP is our interview with UFC middleweight, Cam Rowston. With a special shoutout to Cageside Press’ own Jay Anderson for an assist with the interview, he chats with Rowston about the upcoming contest in Perth as well as starting to feel comfortable inside of the UFC.

Cheyanne Bowers Interview (38:42)

Closing out this UFC Perth edition of TTP is our interview with PFL flywight, Cheyanne Bowers. Bowers talks about her change in management and how that led her to exploring a move to the PFL. Now in the organization, she’s got her eyes on plenty of names within the division. Those names include the likes of divisional kingpin, Dakota Ditcheva. She gives a timeline she’d like to get there and then a breakdown of her fight in Sioux Falls this weekend.

The post TTP Ep. 529: Dom Mar Fan, Cam Rowston, Cheyanne Bowers and UFC Perth appeared first on Cageside Press.