ONE of the country's best amateur mixed-martial art fighters, Shay Ingram from Worcester, is now seeking a professional contract as he looks to pursue his UFC dream.

20-year-old Ingram has won MMA competitions up and down the country in his five-year career as an amateur but after his weekend victory over Cheik Marne, he now puts his amateur career behind him.

The fighter, who boxes out of DP Boxing Worcester (run by coach Jon Shaw) and fights out of Team Renegade BJJ in Birmingham, is regarded as one of the best in the game at amateur level and he signs off as a three-platform champion across two weight divisions (featherweight and lightweight).

Ingram's victory at the weekend takes his record to an unbeaten 9-0-0 (6KOs) and now he looks ahead to signing a professional contract so he can begin that journey to the UFC.

"Yep, the UFC is where I want to be, let’s get that straight from the off!" he said.

"Any aspiring MMA fighter has the UFC as their goal and that’s no different for me. Whatever It takes to get there, that is what I’ll do and is where I want to be.

"I am super confident I can achieve that dream. Time is on my side and that means I do not have to rush into anything. Some people feel they need to rush, there is no need for me, I can just take good fights and I can hopefully be in the UFC by the time I'm 23/24."

As in any sport, reaching the pinnacle is a long journey and one likely to be full of challenges, but Ingram is confident in his ability and is ready to do what it takes to get to the UFC.

"At the minute it's difficult (to get into the UFC)," he said. "But with my skills, my following, I can get there. I believe I am the best amateur in the country and then I believe I can go on to be the best MMA fighter in the country.

On his amateur career, he added: "I've really enjoyed it. I feel like I've learned a lot, I've developed my skills whilst in the cage.

"The pressure around you, the crowd behind you, the crowd that want you to lose, some people go in and crack, but I elevate in that situation"