Drake’s betting activities have become a running joke in the sports world, largely due to the famed “Drake curse.” The rapper, known for his high-stakes bets, frequently backs athletes who go on to lose spectacularly. From Conor McGregor to Serena Williams, and even big football clubs, everyone affiliated with Drake appears to be struggling under the weight of his popularity. Drake has made massive wagers on multiple UFC fighters, the majority of whom have failed to win. Now, the curse has a new potential victim: Alexander Volkanovski.

Alexander Volkanovski, who hasn’t competed in the Octagon in almost a year, makes a huge return at UFC 314. He last fought in February 2024 at UFC 298 and lost his title to Ilia Topuria. This defeat ended his nearly five-year tenure as champion. With his confidence already shaken by two back-to-back losses, he would be looking for some motivation, but definitely not by the Canadian rapper.

Drake is backing the former UFC featherweight champion to reclaim his title against rising star Diego Lopes at UFC 314. The bet? Worth $500,000 with a massive payoff of $915,000, if Volkanovski wins. However, fans have now warned the Australian fighter about the history of this infamous jinx. While some still believe Volkanovski is dominant, others question if Drake’s backing will once again backfire on one of the best fighters in MMA.

All this, is especially considering that Lopes has been on a rampage since his 2023 loss to Movsar Evloev, winning five consecutive fights. He dominated top-tier fighters like Pat Sabatini and Brian Ortega, with the latter being the bout that earned him this title shot. While ‘The Great’ has significantly more experience in big fights, Lopes benefits from a younger age, momentum, and confidence. All of that, plus Drake’s famed betting curse, which may be working in his favor. But who are some recent victims of the curse?

The Drake curse in the combat realm

The idea that Drake’s bets bring bad luck is no longer just an internet joke; it’s beginning to seem strangely real. While Diego Lopes prepares for the biggest fight of his career, Alexander Volkanovski finds himself carrying the weight of superstition thanks to one man’s wallet. With Drake placing a large bet on ‘The Great,’ fans can’t help but recall how frequently things have gone wrong in MMA due to this wicked curse. As strange as it sounds, the correlation is simply too strong to ignore.

Drake’s track record with UFC betting is a rough one, to say the least. He famously lost $275,000 betting on Jorge Masvidal to defeat Colby Covington, only to see Masvidal get outclassed. A few months later, he spent $400,000 on Justin Gaethje, who was eventually submitted by Charles Oliveira in the first round. Then Jake Paul lost to Tommy Fury. Drake bet $400K for Paul to win via knockout, and when he didn’t, ‘The Problem Child’ even joked that Drake was the reason he lost.

In fact, more recently, Alex Pereira, who was spotted with Drake ahead of UFC 313, lost his title to Magomed Ankalaev in what appeared to be a one-sided battle. ‘The Great’ may now fall into the same trap. However, it is worth noting that not all fighters have succumbed to the so-called curse. Jon Jones is one of the few exceptions, winning at UFC 285 despite Drake’s half-million bet on him. So, what do you think? Will the Drake curse strike again, or will ‘The Great’ prove why he has this epic moniker in the first place? Let us know in the comments.