Drake Stakes £350k on Adesanya: Will the "Drake Curse" Strike Again?
Canadian rapper Drake, renowned for his high-stakes sports bets, has placed a hefty wager on Israel Adesanya to reclaim the UFC middleweight title at UFC 305. The bet, totalling £350,000, sees Drake back "The Last Stylebender" to defeat Dricus du Plessis in the main event showdown on Saturday.
A consistent supporter of Adesanya, Drake has never shied away from betting on the Nigerian-born fighter, despite suffering significant financial losses in the past. This time, his wager could see him pocket a tidy £660,000 if Adesanya triumphs, but history suggests that the "Drake Curse" could be lurking.
The "Drake Curse" is a light-hearted term used to describe the unfortunate trend of athletes or teams experiencing defeat after receiving Drake's backing. This phenomenon has become a running joke, with Drake's betting misses often garnering more attention than his wins.
A dedicated website even tracks Drake's betting history, highlighting his triumphs and failures. Notably, Adesanya has suffered two losses as the favourite while Drake had money on him. The rapper's biggest financial setback came at UFC 281, where he lost over £1.2 million after placing a bet on Adesanya to defeat Alex Pereira.
Despite these setbacks, Drake still holds a slight profit from his bets on Adesanya, totalling just over £11,000. However, his latest wager puts him at risk of a significant loss if Adesanya falls short.
The upcoming fight is seen as a close contest by oddsmakers, with the odds fluctuating throughout the week. While Adesanya was initially considered the slight favourite, the odds have shifted back and forth, making it a true pick 'em fight.
Whether Drake will see his bet pay off and further increase his profit margin or fall victim to the notorious "Drake Curse" remains to be seen. The answer will be revealed when the octagon lights go out and UFC 305 concludes on Saturday.
