Matt Schnell on Fellow UFC Flyweights: ‘I Can Finish All These Guys’

Two years ago, Matt Schnell was the recipient of back-to-back knockout losses and his future inside the Octagon looked bleak. That’s not the case anymore.

Schnell (14-4) was signed by the UFC after dominating the opposition in Legacy Fighting Alliance and capturing that promotion’s flyweight strap. But “Danger” quickly realized that the UFC is an entirely different animal and was knocked out in the opening round by Rob Font and Hector Sandoval in his first two Octagon appearances. The American Top Team fighter rebounded nicely and won three straight before vanquishing Jordan Espinosa in one of the featured preliminary bouts at UFC on ESPN 5 5 on Saturday afternoon.

Schnell hurt Espinoza with low kicks and then quickly transitioned from being taken down into a guillotine choke before switching to a triangle. Espinoza (14-6, 1 NC) couldn’t escape and tapped out just 83 seconds into their match. It was the second consecutive first-round triangle choke submission win for Schnell, who immediately declared what his goals are moving forward.

“I want Deiveson Figueiredo next,” he said. “I figure that sets up someone to fight Joseph Benavidez.”

Schnell also targeted reigning UFC flyweight and bantamweight king Henry Cejudo, who is expected to be sidelined until early next year as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Cejudo is among the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters and is among only four people in history to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes in the promotion, but Schnell has no idea when Cejudo will return to defend his 125-pound throne.

“Henry’s hurt and touring South America with Brazilian supermodels,” Schnell said. “If he won’t keep this division afloat, somebody’s got to step up and that’s me. I can finish all these guys. It’s taken me getting my feet wet and taking my lumps to prove it to myself. I have respect for everybody, but they can all get it. I’m the best in the world.”

But to get to the top of the 125-pound mountain, “Danger” believes that he has through Figueiredo first.

  “Deiveson’s a tough fight,” he said. “I like that he’s ranked up there. He just beat [Alexandre] Pantoja, who’s a friend of mine. I think Deiveson is the guy to beat to make me No. 1 contender. I’m just looking up and have a family on the way. I’ve just finished two guys in a row. I’m the best in the world—period.”