By Nicholas Graham
Kinny Spotwood first arrived in Tulsa in 2003 as a freshman member of the University of Tulsa football team. Hailing from Abilene, TX as an undersized Defensive End, his explosive speed and agility enabled him to become a tangible force for the Golden Hurricane squad. In 2010, Spotwood officially traded his football pads for gloves and began a career as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter.
MMA is a full contact sport best known for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) series. Unlike football, MMA does not offer its athletes any protective gear. When asked, Spotwood said vulnerability without protection was not the biggest obstacle he encountered when transitioning from a lifelong football career, “The hardest part of getting used to this sport is that it’s one-on-one, not team; win or lose, it falls on you, no one else.”
Motivated by his older brother back home in Texas, Spotwood tries not to focus on potential injuries he might face as an MMA fighter, but rather on each day as it happens. “Every sport comes with potential dangers. I just try my best to protect myself and pray nothing bad happens.”
An average day for the former Hurricane athlete consists of four to six hours of martial arts training. With a 2-2-0 record, Spotwood has his sights set high for his MMA future, he hopes to one day fight someone that will “put him in the record books”.
Kinny Spotwood Football
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