Dana White, the UFC boss, is making waves in the newest Super Bowl commercial. The ad, which was released on Tuesday, February 6, comes just days before the highly anticipated Big Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Taking place in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, the Fight, Sports, and Entertainment Capital of the World, the game will be held at the impressive Allegiant Stadium. With a capacity of 65,000 and a price tag of $1.9 billion, this stadium is also home to the Raiders.
The commercial starts off with a refrigerator containing a shaking beer. Suddenly, a Bud Light genie emerges from a puff of smoke, granting wishes to lucky individuals. These wishes include a big bicep, a luxurious limousine ride, and an unlimited supply of Bud Lights. Other wishes feature Peyton Manning as a best friend, Post Malone in a bar, and, of course, the desire to attend a fight. It is at this point that Dana White makes his entrance into the scene.
Dana White expressed his excitement about being a part of Bud Light’s Super Bowl commercial this year. In a statement to MMA Fighting, he said, “It was an absolute blast to be a part of Bud Light’s Super Bowl commercial this year. Anheuser-Busch and the Super Bowl are two of the biggest American brands in the world. The cast, the director, and Peyton were fun to work with, and it was such an incredible way to kick off my new partnership with AB and Bud Light.”
Bud Light and UFC Reunite in $100 Million Deal
In a groundbreaking deal, Bud Light has reunited with UFC in a partnership worth over $100 million, as reported by SportsProMedia in October 2023. The official global beer partner for the leading MMA firm, Ab InBev, kicked off the deal in January 2024.
UFC President, Dana White, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were UFC’s original beer sponsors over fifteen years ago. I’m proud to announce that we are back in business together.” White emphasized the alignment of core values between the two brands and the incredible prospects for the future.
The contract is set to run for six years and is the largest per-year deal in the history of MMA promotions, according to SportsProMedia. However, the partnership faced controversy due to Bud Light’s previous association with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney. Right-wing figures boycotted the brand, with Kid Rock even going so far as to shoot bullets through a case of Bud Light with a machine gun.
In response to the backlash, Bud Light’s decision to partner with UFC seemed to be an attempt to regain favor with the right-wing market and mitigate financial losses. White addressed the criticism, stating, “When it comes to Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light, everybody talks about, ‘Oh, you did it for money!’ Hey dummies, all sponsorship deals are about money. I am more aligned with Anheuser-Busch than any of the other beer companies that were offering to pay us money.”
In addition to White’s endorsement, UFC announcer Bruce Buffer also made a memorable appearance at Super Bowl opening night at Allegiant Stadium. Known for his energetic introductions of fighters, Buffer introduced the competing teams with great fanfare. The reigning Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs, and the challengers, San Francisco 49ers, both received grand introductions from Buffer.
The highly anticipated NFL championship game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on Sunday and will be broadcasted on CBS, with live streaming available on Paramount+. Stay tuned for all the latest updates on combat sports and UFC from Alan Dawson, your go-to source.