Former UTEP football player AJ Hotchkins continues to find improvement in combat sports
Always the competitor, former UTEP football player AJ Hotchkins has found a new passion in his post football life in Mixed Martial Arts.
The 27-year-old was a junior college standout, who attended Oregon and later UTEP as a standout linebacker. He eventually stayed on at UTEP where he was a defensive assistant coach but due to the school's budget cuts because of COVID-19, Hotchkins began to look elsewhere for his path in life.
"For about two years I have been training in combat sports, first with jiu jitsu and then got involved in the mixed martial arts," Hotchkins said. "It's a challenge learning to be the best at various abilities within the sport. Every day I try to improve on my striking, my wrestling. I love the challenge of it."
Hotchkins, who is 1-1 as an amateur MMA fighter, was expected to fight on Friday night at Southwest University Park in a preliminary bout of the Legacy Fighting Alliance Card. But difficulties in securing an opponent forced Hotchkins off the card.
"I love the sport of MMA and I'm putting forth my best effort to be the very best I can be," Hotchkins said. "It's a process of learning this sport and every day I learn something new. I have to be patient in this sport and I have to stay focused. I lost my first fight, but I learned from that and came back to win that fight."
Hotchkins is into the fitness world and began posting related content on his TikTok account in early 2021 and immediately attracted followers on his social media accounts, including TikTok and Instagram.
"One door closed in football and another door opened for me in the world of MMA," Hotchkins said. "I'm determined to make this a go."
Not all is lost for Hotchkins this weekend and he will still get the opportunity to fight in Arizona at an event.
"AJ works hard and he's coming a long way," said Juan Gandara, who helps train Hotchkins here in El Paso. "He learns more and more every day and he's a strong person. He's going to give his best effort every day in training and in his fights."
Friday's show
LFA 164 will be the first time the company has come to El Paso. The main event will feature a women’s flyweight title fight between former LFA champion Sabina Mazo and ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’ alum Sandra Lavado. The entire main card will be shown live on UFC Fight Pass starting at 9 p.m. The non-televised portion of the card begins at 7 p.m.
More: MMA news UFC legend Chuck Liddell coming to El Paso as part of MMA event
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @fchavezeptimes on Twitter
LFA 164 Fight Card
When: Friday night
Where: Southwest University Park
Time: Fights begin at 7 p.m.
TV: UFC FIght Pass
Tickets: Start at $50 and are available at SWUP
Of note: There are 10 fights scheduled, highlighted by a women's flyweight title fight between Sabina Mazo (9-4) and Sandra Lavado (12-4)
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former UTEP football player AJ Hotchkins find passion in MMA
