Saad Awad

Saad Rassam Awad (, born June 7, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist competing in the lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, Awad has formerly competed for Bellator, Strikeforce and King of the Cage.

Background Born in San Bernardino, California to a Palestinian father and a Brazilian mother, Awad is the fourth eldest of twelve siblings. Growing up, Awad competed in soccer and wrestling at Cajon High School and later wrestled for a semester at a junior college. Later, Awad stumbled upon mixed martial arts and eventually moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Awad started his career in 2006. He fought mainly for the Costa Rican promotion Titans of the Pentagon and for the Californian promotion Gladiator Challenge.

For Titans of the Pentagon, he compiled four victories, winning a four-man tournament on the way.

For Gladiator Challenge, he had his first defeat against Nam Phan on February 16, 2008 at GC 74. Despite having lost his GC debut, Awad won the Gladiator Challenge Lightweight Championship against Kyle Olsen on October 25, 2008 at GC 85.

Strikeforce Awad faced Joe Duarte on April 9, 2011 at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley. He lost via submission in the second round.

The Ultimate Fighter Awad appeared in the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson. He lost via unanimous decision against Joey Rivera during the entry round.

Bellator MMA Awad made his Bellator MMA debut on January 25, 2009 at Bellator 10 against Diego Garijo. He lost via submission in the first round.

On January 31, 2013 at Bellator 87, Awad was expected to face Jason Fischer. However, he had to replace Patricky Freire in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Eight Lightweight Tournament due to a knee injury against Guillaume DeLorenzi. He won via KO 31 seconds into the first round.

In the semifinals, Awad faced Will Brooks on February 28, 2013 at Bellator 91. In a major upset, Awad knocked out the heavily favored Brooks via KO in under a minute once again.

Awad faced David Rickels in the tournament finals at Bellator 94. He lost the fight via TKO due to a highly controversial finish. Rickels dropped Awad with a right hand at the very end of the round, but Awad remained resting on his back instead of getting up to his corner, resulting in the referee declaring an end to the match.

Awad next faced British fighter Martin Stapleton in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season nine lightweight tournament on September 27, 2013 at Bellator 101. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Awad had a rematch with Will Brooks in the semifinal round on October 25, 2013 at Bellator 105. He lost via unanimous decision (30-27, 30–27, 30-27).

Awad fought Joe Duarte at Bellator 122 in a rematch from their 2011 bout. He won the fight via TKO in the first round where he locked in an arm triangle, and elbowed Duarte. Duarte punched Awad in the head and made him suffer from symptoms of concussion.

Awad faced undefeated Sergio Rios on October 3, 2014 at Bellator 127. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Awad faced Rob Sinclair at Bellator 136 on April 10, 2015. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Awad faced Patricky Freire at Bellator 141 on August 28, 2015. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Awad moved up to the welterweight division and faced Evangelista Santos at Bellator 154 on May 14, 2016. Awad defeated the veteran via TKO after repeated strikes on the ground while Santos held on to a submission attempt.

Returning to lightweight, Awad faced Derek Anderson at Bellator 160 on August 26, 2016. In a back-and-forth affair, in which both fighters traded near submission finishes, Awad ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Awad again moved up to the welterweight division and faced Brennan Ward at Bellator 163 on November 4, 2016. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Awad faced Ryan Quinn at Bellator 178 on April 21, 2017. He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

Awad faced Zach Freeman at Bellator 186 on November 3, 2017. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Awad faced J.J. Ambrose at Bellator 193 on January 26, 2018. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Awad fought Ryan Couture at Bellator 201 on June 29, 2018, winning the fight via technical knockout.

Awad faced Benson Henderson at Bellator 208 on October 13, 2018. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

As the first bout of his new contract with Bellator, Awad faced Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 229 on October 4, 2019. He lost the fight via a verbal submission due to an armbar in the first round.

Awad stepped in as a short-notice replacement for Sabah Homasi against Paul Daley at Bellator 232 on October 26, 2019. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Awad then faced Mandel Nallo at Bellator 249 on October 15, 2020. Nallo kneed Awad in the groin rendering him unable to continue the bout, leading to a no contest.

Awad faced Nate Andrews on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259 He won the bout via TKO in the first round after dropping Andrews multiple times, leading to the referee calling the bout.

Awad faced Chris Gonzalez on January 29, 2022 at Bellator 273. He lost the bout via head kick knockout 36 seconds into the first round.

Personal life Awad and his wife Britni live in Riverside, California with their daughter and son.

Championships and accomplishments Bellator Fighting Championships Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up Third most bouts in Bellator history (24) Most losses in Bellator history (11) Gladiator Challenge Gladiator Challenge Lightweight Championship (One time) Titans of the Pentagon TOTP Four-Man Welterweight Tournament Winner (2007) MMAJunkie.com 2019 March Fight of the Month vs. Brandon Girtz

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Chris Gonzalez KO (head kick and punches) Bellator 273

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Nate Andrews TKO (punches) Bellator 259

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States NC

Mandel Nallo NC (accidental low blow) Bellator 249

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Paul Daley TKO (punches) Bellator 232

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Goiti Yamauchi Verbal Submission (armbar) Bellator 229

Temecula, California, United States Loss

Brandon Girtz Decision (unanimous) Bellator 219

Temecula, California, United States Loss

Benson Henderson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 208

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Ryan Couture TKO (punches) Bellator 201

Temecula, California, United States Win

J.J. Ambrose Decision (unanimous) Bellator 193

Temecula, California, United States Win

Zach Freeman TKO (punch) Bellator 186

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Ryan Quinn Decision (unanimous) Bellator 178

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Brennan Ward KO (punches) Bellator 163

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Derek Anderson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 160

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Evangelista Santos TKO (punches) Bellator 154

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Patricky Freire Decision (unanimous) Bellator 141

Temecula, California, United States Win

Rob Sinclair Decision (unanimous) Bellator 136

Irvine, California, United States Win

Sergio Rios Decision (unanimous) Bellator 127

Temecula, California, United States Win

Joe Duarte TKO (elbows) Bellator 122

Temecula, California, United States Loss

Will Brooks Decision (unanimous) Bellator 105

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Win

Martin Stapleton Submission (rear naked choke) Bellator 101

Portland, Oregon, United States Loss

David Rickels TKO (punches) Bellator 94

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Will Brooks KO (punches) Bellator 91

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Win

Guillaume DeLorenzi KO (punches) Bellator 87

Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States Win

Daniel McWilliams Submission IES: Inland Empire Strikes

Ontario, California, United States Win

Matt Shorey TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge: Star Wars

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Andy Morales Submission (rear-naked choke) MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 6

Riverside, California, United States Return to Lightweight. Win

Joey Nier KO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Pro-Am Series 2

San Jacinto, California, United States Loss

Joe Duarte Submission (armbar) Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

San Diego, California, United States Lightweight bout. Win

Bryson Kamaka TKO (punches) KOTC: Sniper

San Bernardino, California, United States Loss

Diego Garijo Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 10

Ontario, California, United States Lightweight bout. Loss

Karen Darabedyan Decision (split) Gladiator Challenge: Revolution

Los Angeles, California, United States Welterweight debut. Win

Jorge Britto Decision (majority) CCF 3: Undisputed

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Kyle Olsen Submission GC 85: Cross Fire

San Diego, California, United States Loss

Nam Phan TKO (punches) GC 74: Evolution

Los Angeles, California, United States Win

Evan Vasquez Matus TKO TOTP: Titans of the Pentagon

San José, Costa Rica Win

Eric Beitia Submission (guillotine choke) TOTP: Titans of the Pentagon

San José, Costa Rica Loss

Ludwing Salazar KO (punch)

Win

Wilberth Montoya Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Art Ruiz DQ KOTC: The Return

San Jacinto, California, United States