![[WATCH] Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke at Poker Event, Fans Go Wild!](https://i0.wp.com/bjj-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mackenzie-dern-teaches-hawk-tuah-choke.png?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "[WATCH] Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke at Poker Event, Fans Go Wild!")
![[WATCH] Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke at Poker Event, Fans Go Wild!](https://i0.wp.com/bjj-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mackenzie-dern-teaches-hawk-tuah-choke-696x364.png?resize=696%2C364&ssl=1 "mackenzie-dern-teaches-hawk-tuah-choke")
Watch as Mackenzie Dern teaches Hawk Tuah choke at the Celebrity Poker Tour event in Las Vegas.
The impromptu BJJ lesson followed a playful moment where Hailey Welch (“Hawk Tuah Girl”) jokingly tried to choke NFL great Adrian Peterson.
The viral crossover between a UFC star and a TikTok icon sparked major engagement — and showed MMA’s growing pop culture footprint.
Internet Erupts as Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke
The 2025 Celebrity Poker Tour stop in Las Vegas was already stacked with famous faces — but it was a moment between UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern and viral TikTok star Hailey Welch that completely stole the show.
In between poker hands, Welch — better known online as the “Hawk Tuah Girl” — jokingly reached over and tried to choke former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson in a lighthearted attempt at intimidation. Cameras rolled. The room laughed. And then Mackenzie Dern stepped in.
Smiling, Dern calmly approached Welch and began showing her the proper mechanics of a rear-naked choke. Welch listened, laughed, and tried to replicate the move on Peterson — this time with more precision.
“Don’t just squeeze — trap the neck, get under the chin. You want leverage, not just strength.”– Mackenzie Dern
That moment — caught on video and posted across Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter — went viral within hours.
A UFC Fighter and a Meme Walk Into a Poker Room
Mackenzie Dern, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and longtime UFC contender, has always carried her grappling roots proudly into the Octagon. But she rarely gets the chance to display her skillset in front of an audience that isn’t already steeped in MMA culture.
Hailey Welch, on the other hand, became internet-famous in 2024 after her comedically exaggerated southern drawl and phrase “you gotta hawk tuah on it” spread across TikTok like wildfire. She vanished for a while, avoiding interviews and branding deals — but the Celebrity Poker Tour appearance marked her return to the spotlight.
Their collision was unexpected, entertaining, and oddly endearing.
“I didn’t know what I was doing, but she [Dern] made it seem easy — now I feel like I could take somebody down for real.”– Hailey Welch
While most expected celebrities to mingle, pose for cameras, and gamble, no one anticipated a legitimate grappling lesson on the floor of a Vegas poker room.
Inside the Celebrity Poker Tour Moment
Held at The Venetian, the Celebrity Poker Tour stop was a mix of athletes, influencers, poker pros, and media personalities. Dern and Welch were both featured guests, seated at separate tables but often drifting around to interact with others.
Adrian Peterson, playing a hand nearby, had become a running joke among players for his competitive poker face. Welch leaned in and mock-choked him, prompting Peterson to dramatically fall back in his chair and say:
“Somebody better teach her how to do that right — before she hurts herself.”– Adrian Peterson
Enter Mackenzie Dern.
With a combination of calm instruction and light-hearted humor, she gave Welch a 30-second tutorial in proper choking mechanics — earning applause and laughter from those watching, including a few fellow UFC fighters in attendance.
The moment wasn’t rehearsed. It wasn’t brand-sponsored. And that’s likely why it resonated so quickly with fans.
Fans Can’t Get Enough of Dern and Hawk Tuah’s Chokehold Crossover
In a sport as intense as MMA, rare moments of levity can cut through the usual chaos — especially when they involve someone like Mackenzie Dern. She’s known for her high-level grappling, toughness, and aggression inside the cage, but outside of it, she’s approachable and fun.
For fans of both MMA and internet culture, the Hailey Welch choke crossover offered something unique: a real athlete showing respect and encouragement to a non-athlete in a way that felt genuine, not promotional.
“This is the kind of thing that grows jiu-jitsu — not just fights, but moments like this where people get curious, have fun, and feel welcomed.”– Onlooker via Reddit
It’s also a sign of how combat sports are continuing to blend with digital culture — reaching new audiences not through highlight reels, but through human, unscripted moments.
