'Hit me up!': Matt Schnell hopes he gets to work with Brandon Moreno ahead of UFC 289
DALLAS – Matt Schnell welcomes the opportunity to train with UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno.
Both currently training at Fortis MMA in Dallas, Schnell has a long history with Moreno. Although they’ve never fought, Schnell and Moreno took part in Season 24 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and have trained with each other in the past.
Schnell (16-7-1 MMA, 6-5-1 UFC) is booked to face David Dvorak (20-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at UFC 289 on June 10 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and would love the chance to train with Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in preparation.
“Me and Moreno, we’re familiar with each other,” Schnell told MMA Junkie. “He’s brought me out to Mexico City. We have a little bit of a rapport, so no beef. It should be fun. We get good work in. He’s tough and scrappy and in great shape. I look forward to it. Hit me up! I want to know when he’s coming out to Dallas because I’d like to be here for sure.”
Like Schnell, Dvorak will look to rebound at UFC 289. Dvorak is on a two-fight skid, but prior to that was unbeaten for nine years, which Schnell thinks will make him even more hungry.
“David Dvorak: tough opponent – a guy that was really hot,” Schnell said. “He’s lost his last two, but I think that makes him kind of dangerous. It’s an exciting matchup and I look forward to it.”
Schnell has earned Fight of the Night bonuses in two of his past three bouts. He thinks his exciting style should be telling of the kind of fight fans can expect against Dvorak.
“I think it’s going to be a tough one,” Schnell said. “I think it’s going to be a grind. If I remember, they kind of released the card inadvertently. I think they put me on a good spot. I think I’m headlining that prelim card, which is the right spot for a guy like me. Good job by the guys in the back office. It’s going to be exactly what they think it’s going to be. It’s going to be a scrap.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.