Rapper Drake Loses Huge Money Betting on UFC Fight As Israel Adesanya Is Knocked Out

Rapper Drake Loses Huge Money Betting on UFC Fight As Israel Adesanya Is Knocked Out

Isaac Darko
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:16 PM
  • Canadian musician Drake lost 2 million dollars on Sunday with a bet on UFC fighter Israel Adesanya to win
  • Adesanya failed to defend his UFC middleweight belt at UFC 281 against Alex Pereira, who defeated him twice in kickboxing
  • UFC 281 took place at Madison Square Garden in New York in the United States of America, with Adesanya defending in the main event

Drake has lost another bet worth $2 million, by backing Israel Adesanya to defeat Alex Pereira on Sunday morning.

The hip-hop artist has a long history of betting on UFC fights, which includes most recently tipping Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman to win, which saw him lose $200,000.

The Canadian rapper's first public bet on American mixed martial arts came back in March, where he staked an incredible £232,000 ($275,000) on Jorge Masvidal to beat Colby Covington, with Covington resoundingly beating his competitor.

Drake, Israel Adesanya, Alex Perreira, UFC
Canadian musician and superstar Drake lost 2 million dollars with a bet on Nigerian-born New Zealand fighter Israel Adesanya. Photo credit: Jeff Bottari/ @marca
Source: Getty Images

At pay-per-view event UFC 281, Adesnaya lost his title after being knocked out cold by Brazilian challenger Pereira in the main event at Madison Square Garden.

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Drake had wagered $2 million on Izzy to beat his opponent in the main event in New York on Saturday. However, his rumoured curse struck again when Adesnaya was defeated by booming punches from the challenger in the final session.

The contemporary popular musician would have pocketed a cool $678,196 for a victory.

Curiously, that $2 million CAD equates to $1,507,102 USD at today’s exchange rate.

How Perreira defeated Adesanaya

Sports Brief reported Adesanya was likely ahead on the scorecards, three rounds to one, when he he slipped in the middle of the octagon. The 33-year-old fighter tried to recover but it was the beginning of the end.

As Adesanya retreated to the fence, Pereira followed and peppered him with punches to the face, stunning him and nearly knocking him unconscious.

Referee Marc Goddard ended the fight as Adesanya’s body went limp, though he protested the stoppage as he attempted to regain his composure.

Adesanya sought revenge against Pereira

Adesanya had hoped to exact revenge on Pereira in the main event of UFC 281, Sports Brief had reported.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Adesanya revealed his plan to inflict pain on Pereira and also stated why he had lost in kickboxing to the Brazilian.

“That was me not staying true to my style. I know how to touch this guy badly. I know how to vary my attacks and I know how to fight properly. I might just jab and leg-kick him.”
Authors
Isaac Darko photo
Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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