Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. signed a three-year deal with the owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship league making Bud Light the new exclusive beer sponsor for the UFC, the organizations announced Thursday.

Bud Light's deal with Zuffa LLC, owner of the UFC brand, is meant to reach the 21-34 year old fans that A-B covets. The deal begins with UFC 84 live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 24.

From that point on for the next three years Bud Light signage will appear on the Octagon center mat, on its vertical bumpers during each of he UFC's 10 or more annual pay-per-view events, and featured prominently during UFC press conferences and weigh-in events.

Bud Light will be the presenting sponsor of two UFC pay-per-view events per year and serve as the official beer sponsor of at least four UFC Fight Nights.

Also, beginning June 1, Bud Light will appear as the official beer sponsor of World Extreme Cagefighting events broadcast live on Versus network. The World Extreme Cagefighting brand, also owned by Zuffa, is the second largest mixed martial arts organization in the world, according to a release.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is the world's leading professional mixed martial arts organization.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., through its Anheuser-Busch Inc. subsidiary, is the leading domestic brewer, holding a 48.5 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company also manufactures and recycles aluminum cans and operates theme parks.

Source: www.bizjournals.com