Drake has made headlines again with a huge bet on this weekend’s UFC 305 main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.
The rapper, whose net worth is estimated at $250 million, has become almost as well known for his high-stakes gambling as his hit music. But his latest bet has fans wondering: will the infamous “Drake curse” strike again?
Drake has placed a $450,000 bet on Adesanya to defeat Du Plessis and regain his middleweight title in Perth. “The Last Stylebender” hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since losing his title to Sean Strickland last year and this fight is seen as a crucial comeback opportunity.
However, Drake’s track record when it comes to betting on high-profile fights is not exactly stellar. The “Drake Curse” – a social media phenomenon – emerged after a number of athletes suffered losses or setbacks due to their association with the Canadian musician.
One of Drake’s recent missteps cost him a staggering $615,000 when he bet on Francis Ngannou to defeat Anthony Joshua in their fight in Saudi Arabia in March, but Joshua emerged victorious with a sensational victory.
If Adesanya triumphs in Perth, Drake could win $855,000, but history suggests the rapper could be in for another disappointment.
“Always with Izzy,” wrote Drake.
Earlier this year, Drake lost over half a million pounds when he mistakenly bet that Strickland would defend his UFC middleweight title against Du Plessis at UFC 297.
He also lost £430,000 when Adesanya suffered a shock defeat to Strickland last year. Despite his faith in ‘The Last Stylebender’, the fighter was unable to achieve the knockout victory Drake had hoped for.
Drake’s penchant for gambling isn’t limited to UFC fights. Last year, he placed a sizable bet on YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul to knock out Dillon Danis in their Misfits boxing match. Although Paul didn’t manage the knockout, Drake still walked away with over a million dollars after Danis was disqualified in the final round for an illegal chokehold that sparked a massive brawl in the ring.
The rapper has also tried his luck in football, for example losing a sizable £777,000 ($1 million) bet that Argentina would beat France in regular time in the 2022 World Cup final. Although Argentina eventually won the match on penalties, Drake’s bet was a failure as the match was tied 2-2 after 90 minutes.
With UFC 305 approaching, all eyes are on Adesanya to see if he can break the “Drake Curse” or if the rapper’s betting luck will continue to wane.
