MMA Preview – Matt Schnell vs Rogerio Bontorin at UFC 262
MATT SCHNELL VS ROGERIO BONTORIN FACTS
When is UFC 262? Sunday 16th May, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 262? Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 262? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 261
What channel is UFC 262 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 262? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
MATT SCHNELL VS ROGERIO BONTORIN LOWDOWN
Matt Schnell (15-5) was preparing for the former flyweight title challenger Alex Perez but is just grateful to stay on the main card of a pay-per-view. After losing his first two UFC fights, Schnell went on a tear winning four in a row with decisions over Marco Beltran and Naoki Inoue, following them up with two brilliant triangles on Louis Smolka up at bantamweight and then Jordan Espinosa. However, the streak was spectacularly snapped by Alexandre Pantoja with a first-round knockout. Schnell returned on Fight Island and scraped past Tyson Nam with a split decision, but he is back in the win column and that is all that matters.
Rogerio Bontorin (16-2(1)) was marching up the division after winning his first two UFC fights in 2019. He got the nod in a split decision over Magomed Bibulatov and then TKO’d Raulin Paiva but he is now fighting to prevent a three-fight skid. He got ragdolled by Ray Borg to a unanimous decision and then got his clock cleaned by Kai Kara-France a couple months ago.
MATT SCHNELL VS ROGERIO BONTORIN PREDICTION
Schnell has all the momentum as well as a three-inch height and reach advantage and he will look to utilise it to the full with his hand speed. They are both superb on the mat but if anyone is going to look for the takedown, it will be Bontorin. If he does get Schnell to the floor, he will try and pounce on the back, but Schnell’s jiu-jitsu should be good enough to see him off.
Schnell will hope to get to work on the feet and use his speed to pop in and out of range piling up the strikes. If he gets the better of the striking exchanges it will likely force some takedown attempts from Bontorin. Anything can happen here, a knockout or decision either way and if there is a submission it will most likely fall to Bontorin. It is going to be a very fast-paced scrap and will be exciting wherever it goes.
If Schnell can get out of the first round unscathed, he has a great chance to finish stronger and pick up the win, but we are backing Bontorin and his firepower on the feet and on the ground. He is also the underdog, so is well worth a punt and we can see the fight finishing in a variety of ways.
Prediction: Bontorin via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
