Brad Senkiw
• News Editor
16+ years betting experience
Updated:
Jul 10, 2026 , 06:34 PM ET
• 4 min read
The Mac is back and so is Drake, as he returns to making multi-million dollar sports wagers.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. Conor McGregor during a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship press conference July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Drake believes Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon after a five-year layoff will result in a massive win for the hip-hop star.
Key Takeaways
- Drake would win $1.85 million if Conor McGregor beats Max Holloway.
- This is the first million-dollar bet Drake has publicly announced since Super Bowl LX.
- There are plenty of other McGregor supporters at sportsbooks.
Drake announced on social media that he placed a $1 million bet through crypto sports betting operator Stake on “The Notorious” to beat Max Holloway at UFC 329 on Saturday. A win by the underdog McGregor would result in a $2.85-million payoff, netting the rapper a $1.85-million profit if the bet hits.
Drake put a $1M bet in on Conor McGregor to beat Max Holloway at #UFC329 😳
Potential payout $2,850,000 🤯
It’s McGregor’s fight since 2021 👊 pic.twitter.com/OFD6Doiiql
— Covers (@Covers) July 10, 2026
In an Instagram post, Drake wrote: “THE MAC IS BACK?!?!?? The proper twelve drinking, tailored suit wearing, Lambo Yacht riding man with the Dubai tan that once had both belts in both hands.”
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History of wagering
Drake has a history of backing Notorious. The hip-hop star showed up at a 2018 weigh-in for UFC 229 donning an Irish flag, supporting McGregor’s home country. Drake has won big on MMA before, cashing in on a $2.7-million payout when Israel Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira in UFC 287.
He also has a history of losing massive bets. This is the first head-turning wager from Drake since he put $1 million on the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LX, which resulted in a win for the sportsbook.
The rapper has also publicly lost $1 million on the Toronto Maple Leafs last year, and he’s lost other big bets on the NBA, the World Cup, and the U.S. Open tennis.
Not the only one
Drake’s betting habits have certainly incurred “curse” discussions in the past, but he is not alone in believing that McGregor, one of the most popular MMA fighters of all time, can win his first UFC bout since 2020.
At +190, Notorious is the most-bet fighter on Saturday’s card at BetMGM, and he’s getting 85% of the bets and 73% of the handle. Caesars told Covers this week that McGregor is “dominating the bet count 3:1.”
Holloway opened as a -340 favorite at BetMGM but is down to -235, and he’s still getting the second-most money for UFC 329 as bettors are taking advantage of the lower odds.
“Conor McGregor in his prime was truly awesome, but he hasn’t fought since 2021,” BetMGM trading manager Alex Rella said. “Who knows what version of Conor is going to show up. On the other hand, Max Holloway has never stopped being an elite fighter. There are few fighters in the world that can beat Max in a straight-up striking battle.”
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