Canadian rapper Drake has won $2.7million after Israel Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira at UFC 287 to reclaim the middleweight title.
The Nigeria-born New Zealander won back the title just five months after he lost it to Pereira, who has previously beaten him twice in kickboxing.
Drake lost $1.6million after backing Adesanya to win in that fight but the latter made amends for the rapper in his rematch with Pereira.
The 36-year-old placed a $500,000 bet on Adesanya to win which returned $885,000 and a $400,000 bet for him to win by knockout, which returned a massive $1.8million.
Speaking about Drake’s bet after his fight, Adesanya said: “Shoutout to everyone that bet on me but you have to realise that when I step into the octagon, I put my life on the line. That’s the biggest parlay you can ever do. I’m a betting man too so shoutout to stake, we are about to make another deal and get more money.”
Adesanya had suffered three previous defeats against Pereira.
The 33-year-old lost twice in kickboxing in 2016 and 2017, and at UFC 281 in November.
That most recent defeat saw 35-year-old Pereira earn a stunning fifth-round knockout to win the title.
Speaking after reclaiming the title, Adesanya said “I hope every one of you can feel this level of happiness for one time in your life.
“But guess what – you’ll never feel this level of happiness if you don’t go for something in your life. When they knock you down, if you stay down, you will never get that resolve.”
