TEMECULA, Calif. – Saad Awad knew, based on previous experience, that a broken hand wouldn’t be enough to stop him from completing his Bellator 201 bout with Ryan Couture.

But here’s another thing that Awad had learned from experience: Even if he could fight or should he need to, it would certainly be in his best interest to make the lightweight affair a short one.

“I broke my hand like, four times, and I fought to decisions,” Awad told reporters, including MMAjunkie, on Friday after the Paramount-televised main-card fight. “So, definitely (I didn’t worry that it would) end the fight for me, but it did give me a sense of urgency. I knew I had to get in there and finish it quick. Because, between rounds, my adrenaline was going to go down, and that’s when it was going to start hurting.

“Then I would have to point-fight him for two more rounds after that. I broke my hand in my last fight in the first round, so I had to go out there and point-fight for three rounds.”

Awad (23-9 MMA, 11-6 BMMA), who was “100 percent” sure his right hand was broken as he cradled it backstage at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif., managed to spare himself further suffering with the first-round TKO of Couture (11-6 MMA, 3-3 BMMA).

One can see why he’d want to get out of there, but the injury wasn’t the only factor behind Awad’s sense of urgency. As he made clear while still in the cage after his win, Awad wants a title shot – so he knew he’d have to make the win sweeter.

That may have hurt his display a little. Awad felt his movement wasn’t as on-point as it could be, which he thinks has do with the fact he was so dead-set on scoring the knockout. But, even if the execution wasn’t as fluid as he’d like, it ended on the result he wanted.

After his fourth straight win, Awad used his mic time wisely.

“I don’t know who else is deserving of a title shot but me,” Awad said in the cage. “(Brett) Primus, get healthy. (Michael) Chandler, figure out what you’re going to do.”

Awad elaborated. He said he wouldn’t be mad if a title shot wasn’t next, as that would only mean more time for him to work on his skills and improve. But he does believe he’s earned it – even if he’s running out of ways to prove it.

“I was on a three-fight winning streak before, and I think two of them were decisions, and they kind of were like, ‘Oh, kind of boring.’” Awad said. “They don’t tell me that directly, but that’s what I kind of hear. So I put in my head I have to get some knockouts. I think, out of my last four fights, I got two knockouts. I’m going in to try to make statements, and I don’t know how else to put the pressure on them.”

Unfortunately for Awad, he’s currently in a division with a tricky title picture. The current champ, Brent Primus, hasn’t defended his title since earning it from Michael Chandler one year ago. A rematch has been talked about since, but Chandler’s often talked about not being too interested in it.

In fact, as it stands, how much longer soon-to-be free agent Chandler will remain a Bellator fighter is up in the air. Add a very vocal Patricky Freire to the mix, and Bellator’s next 155-pound title bout is a tough one to call.

Awad, on his end, has won three fights in the time that Primus has been inactive. And while he understands why Primus would want some time to heal up his injuries, he also believes the title picture must eventually move forward – with or without him.

“It’s given me more time to fight; it’s given me more time to win,” Awad said. “I got on a nice little winning streak while they were over there playing paddy-cake or whatever they’re doing. But you can’t blame him. When you’re injured in this sport, you’re not going to want to go out and fight at 30 percent. He wants to be 100 percent, especially since he’s the champ.

“So give him all the time he needs, but if it takes too long, strip his title and let me fight for it.”

To hear more from Awad, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of Bellator 201, visit the MMA Events section of the site.