Saad Awad vs. Ryan Couture booked for Bellator 201 co-main event

Saad Awad will look to continue his winning streak close to home.

Awad will take on Ryan Couture in the co-main event of Bellator 201 on June 29 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif., MMA Fighting confirmed Monday with promotion officials. The bout will be contested at a 160-pound catchweight.

Awad (22-9) has won three straight. He’s coming off a unanimous decision victory over JJ Ambrose at Bellator 193 in January. Awad, 34, is a native of San Bernardino, Calif., and trains at Millennia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., which is less than 60 miles from Temecula.

Couture (11-5) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Haim Gozali at Bellator 180 in June 2017. The son of MMA legend Randy Couture snapped a two-fight losing streak with that victory. Couture, 35, has won five of seven overall.

Bellator 201 will be headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight between champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and challenger Alejandra Lara. Also on the card, UFC veteran Valerie Letourneau will face Bruna Ellen in what could be a women’s flyweight title eliminator.