Canadian rapper Drake placed a $500,000 bet on UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to knock out Sean Strickland at UFC 293, which could result in a $920,000 payout for the musician.
Drake, the 36-year-old Canadian rapper, is known for placing extravagant bets on fight nights and the upcoming UFC 293 isn’t going to be an exception. Ahead of Saturday’s main event in Australia, he revealed his ambitious $500,000 wager on the UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya. The wager is specifically for Adesanya to secure a knockout win against Sean Strickland. If Adesanya were to be victorious as per Drake’s bet, it would result in an astounding $920,000 payout.
Adesanya responded to Drake’s wager with a brief affirmation, stating that he’s “dialed in.” This isn’t the first time the famed rapper has placed his trust (and money) on Adesanya. During the previous fight where Adesanya faced off against Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in April, Drake had wagered an impressive sum on Adesanya’s victory. That night, Adesanya not only avenged his loss against Pereira but also achieved this feat through a knockout, just as Drake had bet.
The victory landed Drake a staggering $2.7 million win from his bet, marking a high-profile win for both Adesanya and Drake. Indeed, Drake has consistently bet big on Adesanya throughout his UFC career, further demonstrating his confidence in the Nigerian-born champion’s abilities. As such, it comes as no surprise to see yet another high-stakes wager backing Adesanya for his upcoming faceoff against Strickland.
Adesanya, an overwhelming favorite against Strickland, will step into the cage after Dricus Du Plessis had to withdraw from the title fight due to a foot injury. The injury was sustained in his victory over Robert Whittaker last July. Based on the current odds, Adesanya is a 6-to-1 favorite to triumph over Strickland and successfully defend his title in the main event.