There are a few things that every fighter should know about arm bars in MMA.

#1: If you are stuck in one, tap. Period. Don't try to be some kind of hero, because it's way too easy to end up with a broken arm.

#2: If you seriously injure someone, at least pretend that you didn't mean to, and/or didn't really want it to happen. Don't fall prey to the stereotypes of those who see MMA as human cockfighting, and consider the athletes to be barbarians.

Razak Al-Hussan broke rule #1 in last night's UFC Fight For The Truth event. Steve Cantwell had him in an arm bar, and he had it set in deep. There was no way Al-Hussan was going to get out of it. At that point, the only answer is to tap. I'm sure that's the last thing that Razak wanted to hear, and tapping is the last thing he would ever want to do after training for months for the fight. But now, he will have to take at least a few weeks off, maybe more.

The MMA Experts Blog first let me know about this incident, and emphasized Cantwell breaking rule #2. It's understandable that Cantwell would be excited after the win, but there is a line between being happy about a victory, and being excited about inflicting serious harm to an opponent, with possible long term effects.

Cantwell's quote after the fight can be seen in the above video, and it's exactly what the UFC DOESN'T want to hear from their fighters after a victory like this: "That was so sweet, man. I've been waiting so long to do that, you have no idea".

It was as if he didn't just snap another man's arm moments earlier. Cantwell's reaction was one of someone who had just rode a new roller coaster, or tried a great meal at a nice restaurant. He was excited that he had the opportunity, and was thrilled that he had been involved in an unfortunate situation where a fighter payed dearly for his refusal to tap.

Right now, the UFC is trying to eventually hold fights in the state of New York, in the face of much opposition from politicians who say that the sport is too brutal and barbaric. Cantwell's comments only serve to prove them right. Hopefully this doesn't slow MMA's arrival in New York, although it certainly plays directly into the hands of MMA detractors.