TEMECULA, Calif. — Well into his seventh year in Bellator, lightweight contenderSaad Awad has always been a good soldier.

He’s taken the fights he’s been asked to take and done so without complaint.

But now, at age 36, the Millennia MMA standout figures it’s time to take charge of his career, and ask for only the best fights.

So that’s why Awad (23-11 MMA, 11-8 BMMA), who is coming off a Fight of the Year-contender scrap with Brandon Girtz last time out, finds himself with the potential for another barnburner of a matchup, as he’ll square off with submission ace Goiti Yamauchi (23-4 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) in the co-feature bout of Bellator 229 on Friday night.

“I feel like I have I just have to call out the best guys,” Awad told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s Bellator 229 media day. “Before I never used to call out people, never one to ask for a fight. I think Yamauchi is the first time I’ve gone to ask for a fight. I asked for the best guy that is ready.

“Me and (lightweight champion) Patricio “Pitbull” had already fought so I don’t think he would have fought me coming off a 4-5 fight winning streak. I don’t think he’s going to jeopadize that with someone he already fought, so I asked for the next best guy and that was Goiti and I appreciate him taking the fight.”

On paper, this doesn’t look like a fight which is going the distance. Seventeen of Awad’s 23 career wins have come via finish; while Yamauchi, who has tied with several fighters for the Bellator career submission record with six, has 19 finishes in 23 wins, including 18 submissions.

Awad is an aggressive competitor who likes to hit hard, but he says he is comfortable going right into Yamauchi’s wheelhouse if that’s what it takes to get the job done.

“I know if it hits the floor he’s tricky and he’s going to attack from every angle,” Awad said. “I’m pretty good on the ground and I do a lot of jiu-jitsu. I’m very confident on the ground, even if I take it to the floor I think this fight favors me wherever we go. I’m going to be in the fight just as much as he is while he’s one the ground and while I’m on the ground as well.

“I do think this is going to be a fan-favorite kind of fight because he’s going to attack and I’m going to jump and he’s going to move and I’m going to move and we’re going to get back on our feet and when we do, I’m going to go out there and dance.”

If you look at Awad’s career body of work, he’s done some of his best fighting when bouncing back from losses. The fact Awad strongly believes to this day he should have gotten the nod in the Girtz battle helped light a fire which he believes will carry over into Friday night’s fight.

“I like to fight and fight as hard as I can,” Award said. “And I don’t know if it’s just coming off of a loss, but when my opponent thinks they can beat me it pushes me harder, or you know any time coming off a loss you feel like you want to prove something. Especially coming off a loss, because I always think I’m coming off a win. So, I really want to come out there and prove that I deserve to be in Bellator and I deserved to win those fights that I lost by decision.”

Bellator 229 takes place at Pechanga Resort Casino. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.