Drake Cashes Seven-Figure Payout After Joshua Van Beats Alexandre Pantoja

Drake collected a seven-figure return Saturday after Joshua Van delivered what the rapper needed in UFC 331’s rematch.

The Toronto star posted a $650,000 Stake wager on Van before his title defense against champion Alexandre Pantoja in Los Angeles.

“I don’t know bro … but he better win,” Drake wrote while sharing the betting slip, which listed a potential $1.098 million payout.

Van won by unanimous decision, turning Drake’s $650,000 stake into a $1.098 million total return and roughly $448,000 in profit.

The win is part of Drake’s checkered betting history over the years, which through previous wagers.

According to UFC’s official results, Pantoja started aggressively and scored takedowns before Van found his boxing rhythm.

Pantoja controlled portions of the fourth, but Van took over late by stalking him, landing combinations and scoring a fifth-round knockdown.

Judges awarded Van the fight 49-46, 48-47 and 50-45, giving the 24-year-old champion his second consecutive successful title defense.

“A lot of people say that was an accident win the first time,” Van said afterward. “Now, doubt me now. Shout out to Pantoja. Nothing but respect for me. He’s a tough man. He’s hard to finish. I did my submission, but I don’t know how the hell he got out of that.”

Van also described how difficult Pantoja was to discourage after absorbing clean punches throughout their five-round championship fight.

“I knew I hurt him,” Van said. “He is a mental giant, you know. He just don’t wanna fall and, he don’t wanna show that he’s hurt, but I know deep down he was hurt. But, like I said, man, that- that’s why I respect him so much.”

Van praised Pantoja again afterward while explaining what five rounds against the former champion meant.

“Like I said, man, Pantoja is a great fighter. He is, one of the greatest of all time in my eyes so, you know, fighting him five round like that is just, you know what I mean? It is I’m grateful for that.”

The rematch mattered because Van originally captured the belt in December when Pantoja dislocated his elbow only 26 seconds into their first meeting.

Van improved his professional record to 18-2 with the victory at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19.