UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern gave viral internet personality Hailey Welch—better known as “Hawk Tuah Girl”—an impromptu submission lesson during a recent Celebrity Poker Tour event.
The star-studded poker game took a surprising turn when Welch playfully attempted to apply a choke hold on former NFL running back Adrian Peterson. Seeing the opportunity to share her expertise, Dern, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, immediately stood up and began coaching Welch on proper technique.
“You just hold it in like this but keep it tight because then he’s gonna slowly go to sleep,” Dern explained as she demonstrated the proper form. “Because eventually the blood is going to stop.”
The footage, which quickly spread across social media platforms, shows Peterson jokingly appearing concerned as Dern provides the step-by-step instructions on how to properly execute the submission.
“That’s different,” someone can be heard saying in the background as the demonstration continues.
The video has generated thousands of reactions online, with fans expressing their amazement at the unlikely pairing. One user commented:
“Insane crossover,”
while another wrote:
“Who tf put this table together.”
Dern, 32, is widely respected for her exceptional ground game and submission skills. The No. 6-ranked strawweight holds a 10-5 record in the UFC, with five of those victories coming by submission. Her grappling credentials include a gold medal at the prestigious ADCC world championship.
The BJJ specialist most recently competed in January, avenging a previous loss to Amanda Ribas with an impressive third-round armbar submission in a UFC Fight Night main event. The performance-bonus-winning finish solidified her standing as a top contender in the division.
As for what’s next in Dern’s UFC career, several intriguing matchups await. Having previously faced higher-ranked opponents Jessica Andrade, Amanda Lemos, and Yan Xiaonan, Dern could potentially rematch one of them or face No. 2-ranked Tatiana Suarez. With impressive performances, she may find herself in title contention in the not-too-distant future.
Current strawweight champion Zhang Weili, who defended her belt against Suarez in February, is expected to face top-ranked challenger Virna Jandiroba later this year. Marina Rodriguez just retired this past weekend.
