One of the Strangest Celebrity Moments Ever?
There are strange celebrity moments, and then there’s this. Somewhere between a poker table and a PR stunt, UFC standout Mackenzie Dern ended up giving an impromptu Brazilian jiu-jitsu lesson to viral sensation Hailey Welch—better known to the internet masses as the “Hawk Tuah” girl. And yes, Adrian Peterson was there too, playing the role of choke dummy in a scene that somehow felt both surreal and cringy.
The bizarre demonstration unfolded during a celebrity poker event, where Dern, Welch, and Peterson were among the featured participants. Welch—who’s spent the past year bouncing between fame, crypto controversy, and brief obscurity—decided to spice things up by attempting a rear-naked choke on the former NFL MVP. The results were… underwhelming.
Enter Mackenzie Dern. A UFC strawweight contender with world-class BJJ credentials and an ADCC gold medal on her résumé, Dern didn’t just correct Welch’s technique—she turned the poker table into a makeshift grappling seminar. She explained the mechanics of the choke, detailed the critical distinction between cutting off blood versus air, and gave Welch a crash course in leverage and positioning. Peterson, always a good sport, endured the demo with grace.
But the question lingering in the minds of many wasn’t about the choke. It was: What is Adrian Peterson doing here?
Peterson’s transition from gridiron legend to random celebrity event fixture hasn’t exactly been smooth. Meanwhile, Welch, back in the public eye following a messy crypto project tanked her reputation, appears to be repositioning herself.
As for Dern, her presence is less puzzling. She remains an elite athlete with mainstream appeal and is a star in the sport. Teaching a chokehold to a meme queen while surrounded by poker chips and paparazzi? For someone like her, it’s just another way to keep BJJ in the spotlight—and maybe, remind everyone that not all influencers are created equal.
Mackenzie Dern shows Hawk Tuah how to choke.pic.twitter.com/qxZiD6bJmg
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) May 4, 2025
Jitsmagazine wrote:
As with any other time that BJJ gets mentioned or discussed on another platform, it’s only ever a good thing for the sport. Anything like this helps to bring more attention to the sport and for academies all around the world, the end result is more people through the door. A rising tide lifts all boats too, because more beginners finding the sport inevitably leads to a bigger talent pool for competitors to come from. Giving the general public a glimpse of the power of Jiu-Jitsu like this is exactly how the sport develops further and becomes even more professionalised than it is today.
To which I would say… No!
I love BJJ and don’t want a meme queen involved in a serious crypto scandal becoming a representative of the sport.
A rising tide does lift all ships unless the rope that ties it to the dock is too short and then guess what happens? The boat sinks.
