Canadian rapper Drake attended UFC 297 on January 20th, placing a colossal $700,000 bet on Sean Strickland to defeat Dricus du Plessis in the middleweight title defense, which marked Strickland’s first title defense after his victory over Israel Adesanya in September.

Unfortunately for Drake, the bet did not pan out as expected, and he left the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto $700,000 lighter after du Plessis secured a victory via judges’ split decision. Drake had shared his audacious bet with his 145 million Instagram followers, captioning it with, “And we’re going to fight night @Danawhite.”

This isn’t the first time Drake has placed high-stakes bets on UFC fights. He previously won big with a $3.7 million payout from UFC London after betting on fighters Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann. To share his winnings, Drake went on to buy both Pimblett and McCann Rolex watches.

However, this time, luck was not on Drake’s side. The outcome of the Strickland vs. du Plessis fight has generated controversy, with fans and even UFC president Dana White expressing the belief that Strickland had done enough to win. Drake’s substantial bet, which would have doubled his money if successful, now adds to the lore of the so-called “Drake Curse.”

The Drake Curse has become a superstition associated with the rapper’s support or involvement with athletes and teams. It has allegedly led to misfortune and losses for individuals and entities in various sports, including Serena Williams, Conor McGregor, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Anthony Joshua, and more. Even after correctly backing Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, Drake’s curse persisted when the South American team failed to secure the victory in regular time.

The rapper’s betting adventures and the infamous Drake Curse continue to captivate fans and generate speculation about the impact of his support on sporting outcomes. For now, Drake’s latest UFC bet has added another chapter to the ongoing saga of the Drake Curse.