Drake places massive bet on UFC 331 main event

Canadian rapper Drake has placed a $650,000 wager on Joshua Van to retain his UFC flyweight title in the main event of UFC 331, posting the betting slip to social media with the message "I don't know bro … but he better win."

Van will defend his belt against Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch on Saturday. Van claimed the title from Pantoja in December under controversial circumstances when Pantoja dislocated his elbow after falling to the mat moments into the fight, prompted by Van catching a high kick. Van now seeks a more dominant victory to silence critics and cement his reign.

Drake's massive bet could net him $448,500 if Van wins. The move continues the rapper's high-profile pattern of wagering on major UFC moments—he previously backed Conor McGregor against Max Holloway at UFC 329, Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua, and Israel Adesanya against Dricus du Plessis. Drake has become a fixture in UFC betting circles, though his prominent gambling activity has drawn scrutiny, particularly given his sponsorship deal with Stake, the betting platform he tagged in the post, which has raised questions about the authenticity of some of his gambling claims.

Drake's involvement in major UFC fights has become shorthand in MMA fandom for the so-called "Drake curse"—the superstition that his public backing of a fighter tends to jinx them. If the pattern holds, Van may face unexpected trouble against Pantoja come Saturday.