How Aussie UFC great Alex Volkanovski beat the ‘curse of Drake’ to reclaim his world title after superstar rapper’s stunning megabucks move

• Volkanovski is once again UFC featherweight champion
• Australian fighter fighter beat the dreaded Drake curse

By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Alexander Volkanovski regained the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title by beating Diego Lopes at UFC 314 – and he also shattered the infamous ‘Drake curse’.

The Aussie fan-favourite weathered a knockdown and temporary blindness after a brutal uppercut at the Kaseya Centre in Miami to become the undisputed champion.

The 36-year-old is now a two-time champion of the division after losing the belt in 2024.

However, fans were concerned about Volkanovski’s chances before the bout when they found out that Canadian rapper Drake had bet $545,000US on him to get the job done.

The Canadian rapper has racked up a long list of massive gambling losses over the years, leading to something known as ‘the Drake curse’. 

It seems that whenever Drake publicly supports a particular athlete or team, disaster tends to follow, often resulting in unexpected losses or underperformance.

Aussie Alexander Volkanovski made history with his decision victory on Sunday – and also beat the infamous Drake curse

Drake has become well-known for his huge bets on sporting events over the last decade

Volkanovski helped win the Canadian rapper a huge payout on Sunday

Volkanovski, who’d had more than a year off between fights, rolled back the years to win back his title belt and land Drake $915,000US.

One of the earliest instances of the curse took place in 2014 when Drake was supporting tennis star Serena Williams. At the U.S. Open that year, Williams was expected to win and continue her dominant run, but she shockingly lost to unseeded Roberta Vinci in the semifinals.

Over the years, many more incidents followed, solidifying the legend of the Drake Curse. In 2018, Drake was seen backing Conor McGregor ahead of his much-anticipated fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.

McGregor, the favourite, ended up losing the fight in a fourth-round submission. Drake’s appearance with an Irish flag at the weigh-ins only fueled the notion that his support was bad luck.

The rapper also lost a six-figure sum after Anthony Joshua’s knockout win over Francis Ngannou, and another $700,000 after Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297.

He also lost $550,000 when Israel Adesanya suffered a shock defeat against Strickland in 2023.

Drake’s bet on Volkanovski at UFC 314 paid off handsomely – but the Aussie’s victory stole the spotlight on Sunday.

‘It’s good to be back,’ he said after the fight.

The Aussie regained his UFC title with a unanimous decision victory over Diego Lopes

The 35-year-old said it’s good to be back to his winning ways in the Octagon

‘A lot of people counted me out, the 35-year-old curse and a big break. To come back and beat a gun like Diego Lopes.

‘It’s good to be back. Adversity is a privilege. This moment is incredible.’

Volkanovski had lost three out of his last four fights, with his most recent the division championship to Ilia Topuria in 2024.

‘I felt like I could’ve done more out there. I’m always my hardest critic,’ he told reporters.

‘It’s not about bringing the belt back. It’s about overcoming this adversity, these two losses.

‘That is more important – me showing my kids what you can be capable of when people are counting you out.’

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How Aussie UFC great Alex Volkanovski beat the ‘curse of Drake’ to reclaim his world title after superstar rapper’s stunning megabucks move

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