UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Fifteen fights into his Bellator career, lightweight Saad Awad has grown a little tired of being just another fighter.

After a first-round knockout of Zach Freeman (9-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) to open the Bellator 186 main card this past Friday, Awad (21-9 MMA, 9-6 BMMA) said he’s ready for a step up in competition – for a little respect.

“I kind of do feel (I don’t get enough respect),” Awad told MMAjunkie. “I don’t have a big following. I know people know who I am – but more of the hardcore fans. I just think it would be nice to be out there more. When you’re the first fight on the (main) card, they don’t really promote you, which I understand. You promote the main event and the co-main event. I don’t usually get much promotion. But it’s my 15th fight in Bellator, and I think it’s the first time (I was at a post-fight news conference).”

Bellator 186 took place Friday at Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s campus in University Park, Pa. The main card aired on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

One of the problems for Awad may be that when he’s gone up against Bellator’s higher-level lightweights, he hasn’t typically come out on top.

His resume features losses to Brennan Ward, Derek Anderson, David Rickels, Patricky Freire and Will Brooks, though his loss to Brooks came eight months after he knocked him out in 43 seconds.

But Freeman was coming off a brilliant submission of highly touted prospect Aaron Pico, and it gave Awad two wins in a row. Was it enough to start getting the respect he’s seeking?

Check out the video above for more from Awad after Bellator 186.

And for complete coverage of Bellator 186, check out the MMA Events section of the site.