200-fight veteran Ahmet Kayretli hopes to punch his ticket to UFC, and eventually a title, with weekend win

Bantamweight Ahmet Kayretli boasts more than 200 fights in his combat sports career and has trained alongside the likes of former UFC champ Dominick Cruz and current top flyweight contender Wilson Reis. Now he hopes to join them on the UFC roster.

“I feel I was born with this mission to represent and win this belt for my people, and I’ve already dreamed it many times,” Kayretli told MMAjunkie. “I’m getting closer, and I hope (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby and (UFC President) Dana White pick me soon because I think I am currently the only pro MMA fighter from Turkey that is close to signing with UFC.”

The 27-year-old Kayretli has been competing in MMA since 2013, amassing a record of 6-1 in his first seven pro fights. But that mark doesn’t quite convey his fighting pedigree, which includes hundreds of amateur kickboxing bouts.

“Actually, I’m very happy that I didn’t go pro too soon and too fast because I was always better than my record due to the fact that I had a lot of amateur fight experience,” Kayretli said. “Also, there are not a lot of pro shows in Turkey, and it was not worth it to go pro and fight only once a year when I could fight 10 to 20 amateur fights a year because in Turkey, kickboxing is regulated by the Turkish government, and just like wrestling in the U.S., our national championship is pretty big.

“You have to win between five and eight fights – after you win the regional and state championships – and ultimately fight for your national team, and normally there is a money prize for the champions of each division in the end, so it was not ‘free-free’ either.”

Kayretli (6-1) was eventually exposed to MMA and decided he wanted to try his hand at a new art. It’s been a successful transition so far, and on Saturday, he fights for the Cage Fury Fighting Championships bantamweight title against three-time UFC veteran Nick Pace (7-3) at CFFC 63, which takes place at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

Kayretli believes it might provide his breakout opportunity.

“When I was young, I wanted to be a K-1 champion, but then I started watching UFC,” Kayretli said. “I fell in love with MMA, and I decided to come to the U.S. because MMA is banned in Turkey and I could not pursue it there, so I packed to come to Northern Virginia and joined Kaizen MMA team. They put me on the right path and helped me be where I am now and fighting for the CFFC world title, which is one of the top 10 MMA promotions in the world.

“Needless to say, I still love kickboxing, and I fought a couple of times in the U.S., and I am actually a World Muaythai Council title holder in the U.S. Also, GLORY kickboxing promotion was interested in having me in their show, but they kept dragging their feet, and since I didn’t want to lose my focus, I told them that I would rather pursue my MMA career and I moved on.”

Due to his striking prowess, Kayretli has been invited to other fighters’ camps to serve as a training partner, and he says the experience – including training alongside Cruz to help emulate T.J. Dillashaw – has proven invaluable.

Wilson Reis and Ahmet Kayretli

“I’ve been around a lot of UFC, Bellator, ONE Championship and WEC veterans but what I gained from training with someone who has the title in my weight class was confidence,” Kayretli said. “It was a way to evaluate myself better, and now I know I can be the future UFC champion at 135 pounds.”

But up first is Pace, who boasts four submissions in seven career wins and could provide a stiff test for Kayretli’s striking-based game. Kayretli welcomes the challenge and believes he’ll prove up to the task.

“First of all, I’m happy to fight a guy that already been in the UFC because if I beat him, then there is no question that I’m the next tough generation of MMA that is coming to take over,” Kayretli said. “I know how it feels to fight in that level of competition, too.

“I have fought in Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand. I have fought many big fights in Holland. I’ve wrestled with Olympic-level wrestlers and many, many Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts since day one. So I’m ready for this challenge, and I don’t think people will be surprised by my standup skills, but my wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is where I like to shine, as well.”

Kayretli believes he just needs one shot to make an impression, and he’s hoping he earns it at CFFC 63.

“Like I said, I have dreamed many times that I have the UFC belt around my waist, and I feel I have a mission to make the Turkish nation proud,” Kayretli said. “I’m not going to stop until I see my dream in reality.”