Canadian rapper Drake attended UFC 297 on January 20th and placed a massive $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to defeat Doricas du Plessis in a middleweight title defense. This was Strickland’s first title defense since his victory over Israel Adesanya in September.
Unfortunately for Drake, the bet didn’t turn out as expected. Drake left Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena $700,000 lighter after Du Plessis won a split decision from the judges. Drake shared his bold bet with his 145 million followers on Instagram, captioning it: “And we’re gonna fight in the night @Danawhite.”
This isn’t the first time Drake has placed a high-stakes bet on a UFC fight. He previously won big with a $3.7 million payout from UFC London after betting on fighters Paddy ‘The Buddy’ Pimblett and Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann. To share the winnings, Drake went on to purchase Rolex watches for both Pimblett and McCann.
But luck wasn’t on Drake’s side this time. The outcome of the Strickland vs. du Plessis fight was controversial, with fans and even UFC president Dana White expressing the belief that Strickland did enough to win. Drake’s big bet, which was supposed to double his money if successful, is now adding to the so-called “Drake Curse” lore.
Drake’s curse has become a superstition related to the rapper’s support and involvement with athletes and teams. He has been credited with causing misfortune and loss to individuals and organizations across the sporting world, including Serena Williams, Conor McGregor, FC Barcelona, Manchester City and Anthony Joshua. Even after correctly helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, Drake’s curse remained when the South American team failed to achieve victory within the stipulated time.
The rapper’s gambling adventures and the infamous Drake Curse continue to captivate fans and generate speculation about the impact his support will have on sports outcomes. As of now, Drake’s latest UFC bet has added a new chapter to the ongoing saga of Drake’s curse.
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