Alexander Volkanovski faces the 'Drake Curse' after the rapper's massive $545,000 UFC 314 wager

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 12, 2025, 22:14 IST

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Drake has placed a substantial $545,000 bet on Alexander Volkanovski to win his UFC 314 title fight, reigniting concerns about the infamous 'Drake Curse.' Volkanovski, already facing pressure from recent losses and the '35-year UFC curse,' now has the added weight of Drake's high-stakes wager as he prepares to face Diego Lopes.

Alexander Volkanovski faces the 'Drake Curse' after the rapper's massive $545,000 UFC 314 wager | (Image Source: Getty Images)

Canadian rapper Drake has bet $545,000 on Alexander Volkanovski to win his UFC 314 title fight, prompting the defeat worries that are attached to the infamous 'Drake Curse.' Drake posted the bet, his 'first slip of the year,' on his Instagram story and could win $916,500 if Alexander Volkanovski wins in Miami, Florida. Alexander Volkanovski notes that he is a slight favorite, though his stunning form has been brought into question following back-to-back knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

The "Drake Curse" looms large over Alexander Volkanovski's title fight

It is a notorious superstition in combat sports that the "Drake Curse" has struck several high-profile fighters after public support from the rapper. Drake has previously bet on previous victims Sean Strickland, who lost to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, and Israel Adesanya, who fell to Sean Strickland after Drake bet $500,000 on him at UFC 293.
But Alexander Volkanovski has broken the curse before. When Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his title at UFC 290 in 2023, Drake had bet $1 million on him against Yair Rodriguez and won back close to $2 million. The rapper might have had this previous success, and that is why he was willing to bet on 'The Great' once again.

Alexander Volkanovski also has to jump over the '35-year UFC curse' – the belief that fighters in their 35s don't win title fights – and the 'Nina Drama curse, which is the belief that collabs with MMA content creator Nina Drama always precede losses.
One fan wrote on facebook, "Welp over 35 curse and Drake curse, Volk has no chance" while another said, "Damn I really believed in the Volk comeback story." However, not all reactions were negative, some supporters still had faith in Alexander Volkanovski's skills: 'finally a good pick by Drake. An optimistic fan commented: 'Volk W by TKO.'
Tonight, the UFC 314 main event, Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes, will air live on ESPN+ PPV, as will the co-main event between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett.
Whether Alexander Volkanovski can dodge these supposed curses is yet to be seen, but the even greater pressure from Drake's high-stakes bet has only made the storylines surrounding the championship fight tonight all the more compelling.
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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