Don’t make permanent decisions on emotion.
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Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight Matt Schnell takes on Brazilian prospect Alessandro Costa on short notice in the UFC Vegas 118 “Prelims” headliner this weekend (Sat., June 6, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Two years ago, Schnell had the fanbase talking after suffering a second-round ninja choke submission loss at the hands of Cody Durden (watch highlights). After the defeat, Schnell took off his gloves and left them in the middle of the cage, signaling his retirement.
Matt Schnell left his gloves in the cage pic.twitter.com/8CKHYlUywA
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) September 7, 2024
“Danger” did not get a post-fight interview to explain whether it was sincere, and he did not speak to the media afterward. Then, seven months later, he was booked against Jimmy Flick, a fight he ended up winning to snap his three-fight losing streak.
So, what was up with the retirement? Was it just emotion? Anger? Did he simply need a break?
Nope.
He thought he was getting cut.
“I was very disappointed. Disappointed in myself and just frustrated,” Schnell told MMAMania.com during UFC Vegas 118 media day. “I think I just pitched a fit there in that moment, and I also thought the UFC was going to cut me. Hunter Campbell met me in the back, and I’ve got a great relationship with Mick Maynard, but I don’t want to leverage that type of thing. I thought it might be my last one, so I figured get ahead of it a little bit and just retire. I could say, I didn’t get cut — I retired.”
“But now we’re back,” Schnell concluded. “Not my best moment, if I’m being honest — an emotional moment, one where, if I could take it back, I would have. But it is what it is.”
The 36-year-old has had a tough few years since his 2022 “Submission of the Year” contender over Sumudaerji. Schnell is 2-4 in his last six fights and has been finished in all four of those losses, so it is understandable why he thought his job might be on the line.
Now, Schnell is taking on another tough newcomer who is looking to add “Danger” to his highlight reel.
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