Bellator 193 co-headliner Saad Awad: 'The hardcore fans, they know who I am'

TEMECULA, Calif.  – Saad Awad isn’t too happy with the attention he’s been getting, so tonight, he might just have to go out there and claim it.

When Awad walks out to his home crowd at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif., for Bellator 193’s co-headliner, it will be his 16th appearance with the promotion. Awad (21-9 MMA, 9-6 BMMA) meets J.J. Ambrose (28-7 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) while looking for a victory that will not only add a third victory to his streak, but turn some heads in the process.

Even if he hasn’t had much help to do it.

“You tell me,” Awad said, when asked whether the premium-card placement would be the thing to (finally) get him some love. “Have you seen them promote this fight yet?”

He posted about the topic earlier this week (via Twitter):

Awad then jokingly ended the interview, before continuing.

“But, yeah, I am the co-main event.” Awad said. “And I am going to make noise this fight. I’m going to go out there. I’m going to be exciting. It’s one of those things – you’re not going to be able to look away. The hardcore fans, they know who I am.

“They do pay attention. And If I have to go out there and get everybody else’s attention, I’m going to go out there, and I’m going to do it. And I’m going to do it in a fashionable style.”

And by “fashionable,” he means devastating.

“Expect me to counter-punch, expect me to attack, and expect me to get a first-round finish,” Awad said.

If his prediction does come to fruition, it will be hard to deny Awad. At 34, he’s met the likes of Will Brooks, Patricky Freire and Evangelista Santos. His most recent outing, in November, ended with the first-round knockout of Zach Freeman, who was then fresh off a major first-round submission win over super prospect Aaron Pico.

It’s a quick turnaround, but that’s no problem for a fighter who’d get in there five times a year if they’d let him. Awad anticipated he would be one of the draws in his hometown and, having walked away from his last fight injury-free, he’s happy to be back.

Awad said he hadn’t really heard much about returning Bellator vet Ambrose when he signed the contract for the Paramount-televised fight – but then again, the lightweight is not really one to put too much thought into anyone in the division before the contract is signed.

It’s not like the opponent changes his winning formula, anyway.

“As long as I stay away from decisions, don’t get wronged by the judges, I think I’m good,” Awad said.

Is it really that simple, though?

“It can be,” Awad said. “I’ve been training really hard, so I’m not to throw as hard as I can for 15 minutes. Before, I was afraid to throw with my power because I was afraid I was going to get tired. I’ve been putting a lot of time with my strength and conditioning coach, so I know I can throw as hard as I want for 15 minutes. If I have to, it will be 25 minutes.

“I did it my last fight and it went my way. I’m going to do it this fight and I’m pretty sure it’s going to go my way.”

For more on Bellator 193, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.