New besties?
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern competed in the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Game Night VI this past weekend (Sat., May 10, 2025) at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada, securing an impressive fourth-place finish. The event brought together athletes and celebrities for a lively poker showdown.
For what it’s worth, former three-time Welterweight title challenger Colby Covington was slated to join the tournament but withdrew at the last minute, missing the star-studded affair.
Among the notable participants were former NFL running back Adrian Peterson and Hailey Welch, popularly known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl. During a playful moment, Welch attempted a submission choke on Peterson.
Her initial effort had little impact on the NFL star, but Dern stepped in and demonstrated the correct technique for applying the choke. The adjusted hold worked briefly, though they stopped to avoid putting “AP” to sleep.
Dern also educated Peterson on the difference between a blood choke and an air choke, letting him experience the distinction firsthand—and he sure felt it.
Check out the clip below:
It seems like Welch hasn’t taken former UFC fighter Michelle Waterson up on her offer to help her train for a potential fight.
Nevertheless, “Hawk Tua” placed fifth in the poker tournament.
