Budweiser out, Modelo in as official beer of the UFC

For years, Budweiser and Bud Light have received prominent placement on the canvas at UFC events across the USA. All that will change come 2018 as the UFC has reached an agreement with Mexican import beer company Modelo Especial for Modelo to be the official beer and malt beverage of the UFC in America.

The UFC and Bud brewers Anheuser-Busch had been in bed together since 2008 in one of the first major blue chip sponsorship deals the MMA company managed to sign. Now that the appearance of mainstream acceptance is less important to the league, it sounds like they're hoping a deal with Modelo will help them connect with the Hispanic market.

"They want to get more into multicultural consumers," Modelo's chief marketing officer Jim Sabia told ABC News. "We all benefit. They're going to help take our brand into the general market consumer household."

"Modelo is an amazing brand that shares UFC's unmatched commitment to its fan base," Dana White said. "I love Modelo and we're already talking about doing a lot of exciting things together."

No comment yet from Donald Cerrone, who enjoyed getting regular shipments of Bud Light as part of his sponsorship deal with Anheuser-Busch.