​Canadian rapper Drake has weighed in on this weekend’s UFC 329 main event, Connor McGregor versus Max Holloway, and his involvement has stirred up superstition-minded fans who worry he’s cursed the proceedings. Drake’s track record in sports gambling has long been a topic of conversation, with “The Drake Curse” becoming a popular shorthand whenever the Toronto-born artist places a big bet. The notoriety surrounding his wagering has even spilled into international soccer symbolism: at the World Cup, he reportedly attempted a kind of anti-sauce by betting against his homeland. He dropped a single dollar on Morocco to beat Canada in the group stage, hoping to jolt fate. Morocco did not cooperate, defeating Canada 3-0, reminding fans that luck can be stubborn and unpredictable.
Now Drake is back in the spotlight with a heftier wager: a $1,000,000 bet on Stake that Conor McGregor will beat Max Holloway at UFC 329. A successful pick would yield about $2.85 million, a handsome return, though many observers balk at McGregor’s odds, especially given his recent inactivity compared to Holloway’s continued activity over the last several years. The odds, just under even-money at +185 for McGregor, reflect the Irish fighter’s enduring star power and the lingering uncertainty around both competitors in 2024 and beyond.
But before you pin all your quirks of fate on Drake, consider the counter-curse that fans routinely ignore: the EA Sports UFC cover curse. Historically, every fighter pictured on the cover of EA Sports UFC has subsequently lost their next fight. This superstition appeared to prove itself again when Alex Pereira, who graces the cover of the upcoming EA Sports UFC 6 special edition, lost to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 last month. Interestingly, the cover of the same special edition features Max “Blessed” Holloway, the very man Drake and the betting world are debating this weekend.
So is Holloway now cursed by association, or is McGregor the one under a different spell? Which superstition wins out—the Drake Curse or the EA UFC cover curse—remains to be seen as fans turn their attention to Saturday’s main event at UFC 329. The matchup has become a litmus test for both the superstition industry and the live betting markets, all converging as the gate closes and the arena lights dim in anticipation of a high-stakes clash between a veteran champion and a fearless challenger.