UFC star who retired over fears of being cut in 2024 actually hangs up his gloves two years later

UFC fighter Matt Schnell has decided to actually retire almost two years after laying his gloves down in the octagon.

The former flyweight contender famously laid his gloves on the mat at the Meta Apex following a September 2024 defeat to Cody Durden. However, he later claimed that it was simply a pre-emptive move as he expected to be released from his contract.

Ultimately, he was granted another shot the following April and ended his three-bout losing streak against Jimmy Flick in Kansas City in an all-time comeback performance. That earned him two extra outings, both of which he lost bringing his UFC record to 7-9 with one No Contest.

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Matt Schnell announces UFC retirement again

Almost two years after his September 2024 retirement, Matt Schnell has taken to social media to confirm that he is legitimately hanging up the gloves this time. The 36-year-old flyweight faced the likes of Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg and even Alexandre Pantoja during an impressive career.

“Never made an excuse,” Schnell wrote in a lengthy statement announcing his decision. “Never took a short cut. Never leveraged my relationships. Always with dignity. So grateful for the journey. Everything in this world I have, I owe to fighting.

“And it didn’t come without a cost. I’ve left more than a piece of myself within the walls of that octagon. And I would do it again. I believe it’s time to move on with the next step in my journey. Thank you to my friends and family for all the years of support and encouragement.

“To my wife and children, dad always erred in order to provide. To the Maynards and the @ufc, you changed my life. Now I rest and advocate for the next generation. I believe my experiences have positioned me uniquely to give back to this sport and my region’s fighters. I intend to do just that.”