Hotchkins (3-0) was a standout football player in high school, under-recruited according to his self-assessment. A two-time all-stater, Hotckins played at junior college before the University of Oregon came along \u2013 a dream landing spot being from the state originally.<\/p>\n
Hotchkins played two seasons and started 14 games in 2016 and 2017, before a senior-year injury led to medical redshirting and transfer to the University of Texas at El Paso in 2018. He had a CFL offer on the table, but his internal compass pointed elsewhere: toward fighting.<\/p>\n
“It wasn\u2019t tough to give up football,” Hotchkins recently told MMA Junkie. “I started to fall in love with martial arts. I didn\u2019t grow up doing it. I started training jiu-jitsu the year after my last year of football. Then I got signed in the CFL. I was making my own money doing content creation and didn\u2019t have a traditional job, so I focused on that. I liked what I was doing and wanted to see where it would take me. Looking back, I probably would have gone to the CFL just to give it a shot, but at the time I was uninterested.”<\/p>\n
Many collegiate athletes who feel they could’ve had a crack at the major league if fate hadn’t twisted one or another feel a sense of regret \u2013 a sense of what if. But that’s not Hotchkins. He’s accepting and actually wouldn’t have it any other way. He recognizes that his mind was his connection to the game.<\/p>\n “What I lacked in my football career wasn\u2019t physical work ethic,” Hotchkins said. “I always worked hard physically, but I lacked the spiritual and mental aspects of being an athlete. If I had those two things, I\u2019d probably still be in the NFL. I would have found a way to make it. There are guys I played with who are still playing. Some are on special teams and getting paid millions every year just to run down on kickoff. I was just as good an athlete as them. That\u2019s how I see it. … If I was who I am now, I\u2019d do whatever it takes to get my foot in the door and then maximize the opportunity. I know I could have made it to the NFL. Regardless, I don\u2019t regret anything. Everything I\u2019ve experienced brought me to this moment.”<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Hotckins, 30, has steadily competed in MMA since his pivot away from football. Though he lost his amateur debut, he hasn’t taken an L since. After five amateur victories, Hotchkins turned professional in late 2024. He won back-to-back fights under the Fury FC banner before a victory for relatively new Texas-based promotion Combat Fighting Championship (CFC).<\/p>\n “I think I\u2019d win fights in the UFC today,” Hotchkins said. “My athletic ability and natural talent help me a lot. I believe MMA right now lacks truly high-level raw athletes. The top guys in each division are talented athletes who developed skills. Based on my talent alone, I think I could win fights today. As my skills continue to match my athletic ability, I think I\u2019ll prosper in the UFC. I\u2019m not far off. I just need the right opportunity, continued preparation, and a little luck.”<\/p>\n Whether it’s luck or skill, or some combination of the two, Hotchkins will return March 13 in a middleweight bout vs. Darryl Walker (1-0) at Tuff-N-Uff 152<\/a> in Las Vegas. Tuff-N-Uff has become a staple for in-person scouting by the UFC brass. Whether it takes one more fight or 10 more fights, Hotchkins is determined to catch matchmaker Mick Maynard’s attention.<\/p>\n “The next couple of fights are huge for me,” Hotchkins said. “I need to go out there, perform, neutralize guys, and get finishes. I have a fight coming up March 13th and plan to shut him out and look for the finish. … Long term, I\u2019m enjoying the journey and the process. I train hard every day and keep my head down. I plan to be in the UFC. I believe my potential is unlimited. I think I\u2019m one of the best athletes in the middleweight division right now. I just need to continue developing as a mixed martial artist and keep working. I see myself becoming one of the best middleweights in the world.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/2I6VGbnMqIo\/maxresdefault.jpg\")