Matt Schnell: Flyweight Purge Survivor, World-Class Fighter

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After a successful jaunt into the bantamweight class in March, Matt Schnell will return to his home at flyweight at UFC on ESPN 5 in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday night. Despite earning his first finish as an Ultimate Fighting Championship employee in an impressive performance as a 135-pound fighter, “Danger” believes going back down to flyweight is a logical career choice, as “one of the best flyweights in the world.”

Schnell’s decision to move up in weight was not a choice based on necessity from dangerous weight-cuts or a difficult run at flyweight. His bout with Smolka was an opportunity to stay active, and earn a paycheck. The No. 14 ranked flyweight always had designs on returning to the division and has big goals in the weight class.

“I think I’m one of the best flyweights in the world, and I want to win the championship. I want to wear that flyweight title one day, and I think that I can. I’m in the Top 15 right now. [With some] big wins, who knows what can happen? I can make myself a nice little spot [and] maybe be a part of bringing this division back around to creating some interest in it. I think everybody who survived the purge [of released flyweight talent] is very, very good.”