I disagree... I was watching the fight when it happened, and I think Ben was trying to use his hands against the mat for leverage. Think about it... if you're in a submission hold like that, and kicks from your other leg aren't working, wouldn't you instinctively push against the mat to try and gain some leverage to get your body turned around and break free??
He was beating Quinto to a pulp. That was Quito's second attempt with the knee bar... he just didn't have anything else.

Watch the replay. He was pretty clearly going back to tap a second time exactly as the ref stopped it. Kind of funny how he tried playing it off.