Cagewriter - UFC

Cagewriter

Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:33 am EST

Cantwell's remarks cast a cloud over his win

By Maggie Hendricks

If you watched last night's Ultimate Fight Night, you will not forget the image of Razak Al-Hassan's arm snapping from Steve Cantwell's armbar. It was gruesome enough to shock an arena filled with military, some who have been in combat. The worst part was not the odd angle at which Al-Hassan's arm bent, but the way Cantwell reacted to it.

First, he danced around after the win. Then, when speaking with Joe Rogan, he said that he always wanted to snap an arm like that, and he was happy he did it.

Proponents of MMA, especially in New York, are working to show fighters as more than bloodthirsty cave men and women. Fighters should want to win, and make their opponents submit or knock them out. That's the sport they have chosen, and injury is part of it. However, aiming to injure an opponent takes the art out of mixed martial arts. It also plays right into the hands of Assemblyman Bob Reilly of New York and his ilk who are trying to keep the sport out of their state.

Photo via Combat Lifestyle.

Related: UFC Fight Night 16

digg delicious
more

53 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. HAHA
    1. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    he is 22 my age
    and is still immature
    i must admit tho since i rewinded it 4 times HAHA
    that i read his lips and he screamed "i broke it !" twice
    he also motioned with his arms in a breaking motion twice
    i thought it was kind messed up, but hey thats what happens
    dude shoulda tapped, as soon as he rolled into i knew he was doomed
    i was wondering what is he thinkin this isnt gonna be pretty
  2. knuckle sandwich
    2. Posted by knuckle sandwich Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I too thought that was not good what Cantwell was doing after the fight was over. I mean it's not his fault the other fighter wouldn't tap.... but you don't have an orgasm because you broke the dude's arm.
  3. chano
    3. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    not you knuckle sandwich and haha just the blog in general.
    And yeah really he did act immature act like you have snapped an arm before not like alittle rookie "I always wanted to do that"
  4. chano
    4. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    By the way when Mir did snap Silva's arm you didnt see him going all crazy "Hey Joe I always wanted to do that" Mir finally let us know the reason for snapping Silva's arm in TUF and that was to get the black belt
  5. AD
    5. Posted by AD Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Actually Mir didn't break his arm to get his black belt, you misunderstand the story. They told him he had to submit Tim Silva to get the black belt, it just so happened that Silva wouldn't tap. Because he won by submission they gave his black belt afterward. However, no reputable teacher of jiu jitsu would ever require you breaking someone's arm to obtain a black belt.
  6. chano
    6. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Nope your wrong my friend go back to when Mir was talking about it, they told Mir break his arm and you will get the black belt.
  7. The Dane
    7. Posted by The Dane Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I agree 100% with Maggie and Aaron D. I was disgusted with the way Steve Cantwell acted. It was bad for the sport and he should be ashamed of himself. I hope he receives a public rebuking from Dana White or someone else in the UFC. Could they possibly take away some of his winnings as a punishment? Actions unbecoming a fighter? All young fighters need to know actions and comments like that won't be tolerated.
  8. Maggie Hendricks
    8. Posted by Maggie Hendricks Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    No, I think Aaron's right, Chano. Mir had to beat Sylvia for the black belt. He won by breaking Sylvia's arm, thus getting the black belt.
  9. The Dane
    9. Posted by The Dane Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Chano, you are wrong. He was told he had to submit Silva, it just happened he broke his arm.
    Being ignorant and obnoxious is no way to go through life.
  10. chano
    10. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Ok I'll go with you Aaron my bad
  11. Jon D
    11. Posted by Jon D Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    razak's reaction was interesting...was he in shock? it seemed like he didnt react at all.
  12. Kowe
    12. Posted by Kowe Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Razak should have tapped, but man, Cantwell didn't need to celebrate it the way he did. I'm sure he was happy about winning but to say he's been waiting a long time to do that? geez, maybe he needs someone to do the same to him and say the same thing. They both had exchanges though. Good fights in this card. I thought it would be boring.
    Should the ref have stopped the fight before it popped though? Goldberg and Rogan always used to say that the refs are also there to help prevent injuries. So just when is the ref supposed to step in? Miragliotta did that a couple of times and some people hated him for calling the fights too early (i was one of them). But in this case, if the ref could have, should he have stopped it? Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the ref. I'm just wondering, had he stepped in early, would people get pissed at him?
  13. HAHA
    13. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    john d i dvr'd the show
    so i watched it over and over
    razaks face looked like he was about to pass out like he was overwelmed
  14. lastman standing
    14. Posted by lastman standing Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    what the hell it's MMA not tournament karate people get hurt thats the point, but what really ticks me off is that the dummy should have tapped its his fault, dont blame the guy for being excited about winning in the UFC. Im sure that when the guy didnt tap it probably pissed him off so i cant blame him for being unapologetic.
  15. Farthammer
    15. Posted by Farthammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Razak looks like Marlo from The Wire.
  16. Kowe
    16. Posted by Kowe Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It was funny when Rogan added Razak's "fantastic afro" as one of his good qualities. He did something awkward with his head when he'd throw a punch though.
  17. BearDown
    17. Posted by BearDown Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Cantwell did his job. The guy should have tapped after the roll with the armbar locked. It was more inexperience on Razak's part rather not the immaturity of Cantwell. BTW, he dislocated the elbow. He didn't break the dudes arm. How many wins does Cantwell have by armbar submission? I think he was happy to win that way and not becaue he "hurt" someone. No difference in that type of win vs. the brutal knockout punch and celebrating after. Cantwell is training with one of the best BJJ coaches in the US(Bonner is there too). If Cantwell was actually a punk; his coach would show him the door same as he did Mir years ago. I look forward to seeing more submission wins from him in the future.
  18. Jeff
    18. Posted by Jeff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Does anyone have info on they Corey Hill injury?
  19. vudusup
    19. Posted by vudusup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Let him get in the ring with Kimbo Slice. Kimbo would break his arms just like he broke that guy's ear. Once Slice gets that kubi hishigi on you, say goodnight. Believe it!
  20. Karl A
    20. Posted by Karl A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Beardown, I agree with you, Razak should have tapped, I saw Gracie do the same thing years ago against a guy who wouldn't tap. It's no different than having someone in a choke who won't tap. You hold it until they go unconscious. I do think Cantwell's comments and antics afterwards were totally tasteless. Commenting that he always wanted to do that, saying I broke it, and making the motions with his hands that he broke it isn't something that should be celebrated.
    I watched Evans KO Salmon with a head kick and had his typical celebration. In the interview with Rogan he said he was glad for the win but also said he didn't like seeing the Salmon still laying on the Canvas. That showed class, I won, I hope you're OK. I know it's a tough sport and celebrating a win is one thing, celebrating an injury of that magnitude is immature and not called for.
  21. jgross0707
    21. Posted by jgross0707 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The guy should of tapped. That's part of the game.
  22. Kowe
    22. Posted by Kowe Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I don't think the point is whether the guy tapped or not. Or whether Cantwell did a good job or not. Razak didn't tap, so Cantwell had to do it. Yeah, it's part of the game, part of martial arts. But so is showing some class after. I admit that Cantwell did a good job with the fight. He's good. But he's still a douche.
  23. BearDown
    23. Posted by BearDown Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Karl A ...... What's happening? I was trying to give Cantwell a bit of a pass (tend to give people the benefit of the doubt; it's the holidays I guess). That was his third win by armbar (4 out of 7 are subs). It's kind of like his best move. I think he was more in shock that the guy didn't tap and got caught up in the rush of the whole cenario. Anyone skilled in subs is always curious to see what will happen IF the other guy doesn't tap. He definitely could have been a little more classy but at 22 he still is learning.
    I remember that Evans fight. I'd be curious to see if Evans will ever be that classy again? Entourage's tend to ruin class.
  24. jackswims2003
    24. Posted by jackswims2003 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Geesus Maggie don't be such a p us sy hahahaha
    He is young and will learn.
  25. Kowe
    25. Posted by Kowe Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Jeff, here's a link about Corey Hill's injury. There's a picture of the leg breaking, but I'm not sure you'd wanna take a look at it while eating. http://mmamania.com/2008/12/11/corey-hill-suffers-broken-leg-in-loss-to-dale-hartt-at-ufc-fight-night-16-pic/

Cagewriter

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Steve Cofield

Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Maggie Hendricks, Zak Jensen,

Related Photo Gallery

More MMA Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Cagewriter Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)