Veronica Zajicova submitted Maria Rodriguez using a scorpion-style rib-compression technique at Hexagone MMA 44. The hold, which applies pressure to the lower ribs with the legs, is considered high-risk and rarely seen at the competitive level.
Czech fighter Veronica Zajicova pulled off one of the most unusual submission finishes seen in recent MMA competition, tapping out Maria Rodriguez with a scorpion-style rib-compression hold at Hexagone MMA 44 on June 1, 2026.
The technique, applied with the legs to drive sustained pressure into the lower ribs, sits outside the standard submission vocabulary of professional mixed martial arts. Fighters and coaches rarely drill it at competitive level, making its appearance in a sanctioned bout noteworthy on its own terms. That Zajicova executed it cleanly enough to force a tapout elevates the finish further.
Why it matters
- Rib-compression submissions are legal in most rulesets but almost never attempted in professional bouts due to their technical difficulty and the precision required to generate sufficient force.
- A successful scorpion hold demonstrates a level of grappling creativity and body control that goes well beyond conventional leg-lock or choke-based finishing arsenals.
- The finish puts Zajicova on the radar of fans and matchmakers looking for fighters with unorthodox submission skill sets.
Hexagone MMA, the French promotion that has steadily built a reputation for showcasing technically ambitious fighters, provided the stage for a moment that will likely circulate widely among grappling communities. Submission-hunting fighters spend careers searching for opportunities to land rare finishes in live competition; Zajicova found hers and converted it without hesitation.
