UFC 'Fight for the Troops': Cantwell Painfully Submits Al-Hassan
By: Jason F. Hatcher Posted On: December 11, 2008 at 3:55am“Robot” Steve Cantwell (7-1) defeated Razak Al-Hassan (7-1) via submission at the 4:04 mark of the first round with a painfully extended armbar Wednesday night at Fort Bragg during the UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” event.
Al-Hassan’s striking was respectable from the opening round landing a strong left hand to the chin and a leg kick. But just as Al-Hassan’s striking appeared more accurate, Cantwell soon answered the shots with a double dose of clean left punches.
Cantwell’s counter soon led to a takedown where Al-Hassan found himself under the weight of side control. Soon after, Cantwell grabbed Al-Hassan’s right arm and secured a tight armbar. Al-Hassan refused to tap out but such refusal resulted in an dangerously extended arm cuing referee Mario Yamasaki to step in and stop the fight.
The instant replay of the submission showed what appeared to be Al-Hassan’s elbow popping out of socket as his arm was bent tremendously in an unhealthy direction.
Steve Cantwell officially won via submission (armbar) at 4:04 of the first round.
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Comments
I was disgusted with the celebration that followed. Are these athletes or animals? How about a little sportsmanship? Al-Hassan was essentially crippled on national TV, and we got to watch a man celebrate it. That behavior is pathetic, and I hope the UFC fixes it before their program spirals into the equivalent of a cockfight. The UFC has come a long way in recent years and last night was a definite step backwards.
What are you talking about? Thats the way the game goes buddy, it’s either tap or snap.They know the consequences that can occur when they enter the ring, it’s a fight and anything can happen, if you don’t like it watch another sport. Nice win for Cantwell!!!!!!!!!
your saying you wouldn’t celebrate a win like that?
Jacob, it’s not boxing. This is MMA. Al-Hassan knows the rules and he chose to have his arm broken. Like mistacee1 said “Tap or Snap”. I’m just psyched to see the beginning of what could be a great career in the UFC for Cantwell!
It was Al-Hassan that showed disrespect to both the sport and to Cantwell. If you get caught in a sub it is essentially your duty to tap. What, do you think MMA professionals are out there looking to break someone’s arm? He was forced to do it by Hassan’s unsportsmanlike and amateurish behavior, he should get a 1 year ban for stupidity. Too dumb to even fight for a living.
The problem I had with Cantwell was that he didn’t just celebrate the win but that celebrated the broken arm. He was making several arm-break motions while smiling and jumping around the octogon. Then in the post-fight interview he said he had always wanted to do that, referring to the broken arm. Seemed like a jerky way to behave after a very good performance.