Rapper Drake has placed a $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to win his fight against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297, which could earn him a $1.379 million payoff if successful.
Drake’s back at it again. Just half a year since he dropped a cool half-million on Israel Adesanya to KO Sean Strickland, he’s upping the ante. This time, it’s for the reigning middleweight champ in the run-up to UFC 297.
The famous rapper’s not shy about his bets. He recently flaunted a whopping $700,000 wager on Strickland to defeat Dricus du Plessis in the main event this Saturday. Unlike his last bet on Adesanya, which Strickland spoiled with a one-sided victory to snatch the 185-pound belt, Drake’s not predicting a knockout this time.
Instead, he’s just backing Strickland to win. If he’s right, the 37-year-old hip-hop superstar stands to pocket a staggering $1.379 million. Not bad, huh?
Strickland’s a slight favorite over du Plessis as fight night approaches. DraftKings currently has the UFC middleweight champion at -112, just hours before the event. That means you’d need to bet $112 to make back $100 if Strickland successfully defends his title.
Drake’s not just betting, though. He’s also going to be there. He announced on Instagram that he’ll be attending UFC 297 on Saturday, which happens to be in his hometown of Toronto.
Drake’s a big UFC fan, and he’s known for placing hefty bets on nearly every major pay-per-view. But his track record? Well, let’s just say it’s a bit spotty.
In fact, Drake’s missed more than he’s hit with his wagers. This has earned him a bit of a reputation as a “curse” for fighters and sports teams he’s supported in the past. The list of fighters who’ve fallen after a Drake wager includes Adesanya, Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and Justin Gaethje.
So, maybe Strickland should be a bit careful. He might want to avoid walking under any ladders or crossing paths with a black cat before UFC 297. With Drake backing him, he might already be fighting an uphill battle.