After months of controversy, Bud Light has announced that it will become the official beer of UFC, as part of the brand’s partnership with Anheuser-Busch. UFC CEO Dana White made the announcement on Tuesday, stating that he chose to align the organization with both Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch due to their shared values.
“Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were UFC’s original beer sponsors more than fifteen years ago. I’m proud to announce we are back in business together,” White said in a statement. He also added that he believes the two brands are aligned when it comes to their core values and what the UFC stands for.
Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth also expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that they are looking forward to “celebrating passionate fans while always making a positive impact in communities across America.”
This news comes after Bud Light faced intense backlash earlier this year when it briefly partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The partnership led to a massive boycott and a decline in sales for the brand, with Modelo overtaking Bud Light as the leading beer in America. Mulvaney addressed the controversy when receiving the award for breakout creator at the Streamy Awards last month, acknowledging the hate and transphobia but also thanking allies for their support.
Despite this, UFC CEO Dana White explained his decision to partner with Anheuser-Busch, citing the company’s contributions to the American economy and their support of veterans. “Where I sit personally with my core values and I felt like the core values of the UFC, even though we’re a global sport…This is an American company. And I love this country and this is more about me being aligned with somebody who is a sponsor of the UFC and somebody I’m going to work with every day,” White said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
The backlash and decline in sales for Bud Light have resulted in the company offering distributors $150 million in “incentive payments” to assist in paying their bills. However, White stands by his decision to partner with Anheuser-Busch, stating that the values of the UFC and the brand align.
The partnership between Bud Light and UFC marks a return to a long-standing relationship between the two brands. UFC’s original beer sponsors, Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light have been a part of the organization for over fifteen years. With this new partnership, it is evident that both companies are committed to supporting each other and continuing to make a positive impact in the world of sports and beyond.