Conor McGregor, a name synonymous with the UFC‘s brash and brawny octagon theatrics, added another feather to his notorious cap. This time, it wasn’t fists or kicks but a wager that landed him in the spotlight. McGregor’s audacious bet on Spain to win the Euro 2024netted him a cool $1 million, and if there’s anything McGregor loves more than a good fight, it’s a high-stakes gamble.

Picture this: the man, known for his polarizing charisma and devastating knockout power, sitting back with a sly grin as Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner in the final secures his windfall. It’s a scene that marries the unpredictability of sports with the flamboyant swagger of one of its most colorful characters.

McGregor’s $83,500 stake on Spain at 11/1 odds wasn’t a shot in the dark. It was a calculated risk, the kind that made him a legend in the UFC. Spain’s journey to the final wasn’t exactly a stroll through La Rambla. They bulldozed through their group, leaving Croatia, Italy, and Albania in their wake, and survived a nerve-shredding extra-time victory over hosts Germany in the quarters. By the time they edged past France in the semis, the die was cast.

On the other side of the draw, England, ever the bridesmaid, never the bride, was doing its best to shed that reputation. Gareth Southgate’s men scraped through their group and survived a shoot-out with Switzerland before Ollie Watkins‘ last-gasp heroics against the Netherlands earned them another shot at glory.

Spain’s late winner secures their fourth European Championship

The final at the Olympiastadion was a microcosm of England’s perennial plight. They started with hope, as they always do, but ended with heartbreak. Nico Williams’ opener for Spain was a dagger, and though Cole Palmer’s equalizer breathed life into England’s challenge, Oyarzabal’s late strike sealed their fate. Spain celebrated their fourth European Championship, while England’s wait since 1966 goes on.

It’s not just the players who feel the weight of such moments; fans live and die with each kick. England’s loyalists, who had dared to dream once more, saw their hopes dashed yet again. McGregor, meanwhile, had already counted his winnings, the latest chapter in his life of high risks and high rewards.

The Notorious One will likely keep adding to his legend, whether in the ring or the betting slip. His Euro 2024 gamble was a reminder that fortune favors the bold, a fitting mantra for a man who has built his career on defying the odds.