Drake's Million-Dollar Bet
Rapper Drake Wagers $1 Million on Conor McGregor's UFC Comeback Against Max Holloway
Key Points
Drake and Conor McGregor have a long-standing connection dating back to 2016; McGregor even invited Drake to join him on stage at the UFC 229 weigh-in in Las Vegas, underscoring a personal rapport beyond this bet.
Drake publicly posted a seven-figure stake on McGregor to win at UFC 329, with a $1 million bet that would pay out about $2.85 million if successful, reflecting +180 odds on FanDuel at the time.
Drake's betting history includes notable World Cup wagers with mixed results—he reportedly won a $1 million bet on Canada to beat South Africa in the World Cup Round of 32, and also had a 'reverse curse' bet against Canada in the Morocco matchup, alongside NHL bets that lost.
At UFC 329's ceremonial weigh-ins, Conor McGregor weighed in at 170.5 pounds and Max Holloway weighed 170 pounds for their welterweight main event.
Drake has placed a $1 million bet on Conor McGregor to win at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, where McGregor returns to the octagon for the first time in nearly five years. The hip-hop star publicly posted the betting slip on Instagram, with a potential payout of about $2.85 million if McGregor beats Max Holloway in the welterweight main event, according to Middle Easy.
The bet was placed at +185 odds, meaning McGregor enters the fight as a clear underdog. The wager immediately reignited talk of the so-called 'Drake Curse' — a running joke that Drake's public support tends to jinx whoever he backs, reports NY Post.
Drake Posts Slip, Holloway and McGregor Make Weight
Drake shared the betting slip through Stake, a gambling platform he has partnered with. The post quickly went viral. At UFC 329's ceremonial weigh-ins, McGregor came in at 170.5 pounds and Holloway hit exactly 170 pounds, per MMA Junkie. Both men were cleared for the welterweight main event.
Drake captioned his post with 'The Mac is back,' showing clear confidence in McGregor's return. A win would net Drake a profit of $1.85 million on top of his original $1 million stake, according to KJWL.
McGregor's Long Road Back to the UFC Octagon
McGregor last fought in July 2021, when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. That injury kept him out of competition for nearly four years. His return against Holloway is one of the most anticipated fights in recent UFC history.
McGregor and Holloway actually have history. They fought in 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision. That makes UFC 329 a rematch more than a decade in the making. Holloway has since become a former featherweight champion, making him a serious threat even moving up in weight, notes Central Oregon Daily.
Drake's Gambling Record: Big Wins and Bigger Losses
Drake's betting history is a mixed bag. He reportedly won a $1 million bet on Canada beating South Africa at the World Cup. But he has also lost on NHL bets, and some picks have famously backfired, feeding the 'Drake Curse' narrative, according to NY Post.
The 'Drake Curse' has become a genuine cultural talking point in sports. Fans and analysts watch his picks closely — not always as a good sign for the person he backs. Whether that curse extends to McGregor on fight night remains to be seen.
Music Meets Combat Sports in a Growing Trend
Drake and McGregor go back to at least 2016. McGregor invited Drake on stage at the UFC 229 weigh-in in Las Vegas, showing a friendship that runs deeper than this single bet. That personal connection makes this wager feel different from a typical celebrity publicity stunt, reports Middle Easy.
This bet fits into a broader pattern of music stars inserting themselves into major combat sports moments. Social media amplifies these crossovers instantly. A single Instagram post from Drake turns a sports bet into a global news story — and adds even more pressure on McGregor heading into fight night.
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