Bye-bye, Mickey.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced during the UFC 82: "Pride of a Champion" pre-fight press conference that Bud Light will become the exclusive beer sponsor of the promotion, beginning with UFC 84: "Ill Will" on Saturday, May 24.
It's a three-year deal that will also include the Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) promotion.
Here's a snip from UFC President Dana White:
"Landing Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light is huge for us, our fighters and especially our fans. We've got the number one selling beer in the world and one of the top marketers in all of sports as our sponsor. If our TV ratings, pay-per-view buys and venue sell-outs weren't enough, this definitely cements UFC as a major player in sports business."
Bud Light signage will soon appear on the Octagon center mat, as well as on its vertical bumpers. It was prime real estate that the most recent large sponsor, Harley Davidson, recently had locked up.
There was no reference in the release about how the two sponsors will co-exist; however, it's safe to say that the motorcycle brand will take sidecar position alongside such a blue chip backer like Bud Light.
In addition, this latest news more or less means — even though it wasn't uttered — that Mickey's Fine Malt Liquor will cease be the official beer of the UFC.
Under terms of the agreement, the release indicates that Bud Light signage inside the Octagon will be present for each of the UFC's 10 or more annual pay-per-view (PPV) events. In addition, the sponsor will be featured prominently during UFC press conferences and weigh-in events.
Lastly, according to the report, Bud Light will be the presenting sponsor of two UFC PPV events each year during the agreement and serve as the official beer sponsor of the four or more UFC Fight Night SpikeTV special events.
To read the official announcement head over to UFC.com.
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