Fans Select Diego Sanchez for the Tequila CAZADORES® Authentic Spirit Award

CORAL GABLES, Fla., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past year, Tequila CAZADORES®, the number-one premium tequila in the world(1) and Official Spirits Sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®),  has awarded UFC fighters with the honor of the Tequila CAZADORES Authentic Spirit Award. These winners have embodied the core values of the brand and its sponsorship with UFC by demonstrating authenticity and perfection in the expression of their art form, dedication to their community, and honor in their conduct.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100527/NY11770 )

To celebrate the program's successful evolution and kick-off its second year, Tequila CAZADORES let UFC fans (21+) decide the Tequila CAZADORES Authentic Spirit Award winner for UFC 114.  Consumers had the opportunity to vote online at UFC.com for the fighter they thought was the most deserving of the honor.   To heighten the enthusiasm, the winner will be announced LIVE on May 29, 2010 at UFC 114 as well as on Pay-Per-View® during the fighter's walk-out to the Octagon™. Out of the three competing fighters, Diego Sanchez received the highest number of fan votes, and will accept the eleventh Tequila CAZADORES Authentic Spirit Award.

Diego Sanchez is a proud supporter of Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization. This organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, treatments and a cure for autism. Taking time from his rigorous training schedule, Diego makes it a point to fundraise and lend his support to a cause he is passionate about.  As the winner of the Tequila CAZADORES Authentic Spirit Award, Tequila CAZADORES will present Diego with a plaque and a check for a $1,000 donation made to Autism Speaks.

"The Tequila CAZADORES Authentic Spirit Award has generated significant enthusiasm among fans for our sponsorship of UFC and with that, it was only natural we evolve the program and engage fans in a new way by letting them voice their choice," said Fannie Young, vice president and brand managing director, Tequila CAZADORES.  "Fans chose Diego Sanchez for his dedication and passion both inside and outside the Octagon and they can take pride in knowing their vote helped benefit a worthy cause in supporting Autism Speaks."

Tequila CAZADORES is the Official Spirit Sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®). UFC is the world's leading professional mixed martial arts organization (MMA) that offers a premier series of MMA sporting events.  The Authentic Spirit Award is an honor that is presented to the UFC fighter who best exemplifies social responsibility, commitment to the MMA art form, or good sportsmanship. Each month the winning fighter is presented with a plaque and a $1,000 check from Tequila CAZADORES to the fighter's charity of choice.  These monthly awards will culminate with a larger award presented to the fighter who best exemplifies all of the qualities over the course of the year.  A $10,000 check from Tequila CAZADORES will be presented to this winner with the full proceeds benefiting the fighter's charity of choice.      

About Tequila CAZADORES®

Tequila CAZADORES is the maker of the number-one premium tequila in the world(2) and the number-one Reposado Tequila in California(3).  It is renowned as one of the most popular premium tequilas in Mexico. Tequila CAZADORES is made with 100 percent blue agave grown, harvested and distilled in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, recognized as the premier agave growing region in the world, resulting in a smoother, more flavorful taste. For additional information about Tequila CAZADORES please visit www.cazadores.com.

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.

Bacardi U.S.A.,  Inc. is the import, sales and marketing arm of one of the world's  leading  wine and spirits producers. Bacardi U.S.A. boasts a brand portfolio of  some  of  the most recognized and top-selling spirits in the United   States   including:   BACARDI®   rum,  the  world's  favorite  and best-selling  premium  rum,  as  well as the world's most awarded rum; GREY GOOSE®  vodka,  the  world-leader  in  super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S® Scotch whisky,  the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY  SAPPHIRE®  gin, the top-valued premium gin in the world; CAZADORES® blue  agave  tequila,  the  top-selling premium tequila worldwide; MARTINI® vermouth,  the  world-leader  in  vermouth;  and other leading and emerging brands.

Ultimate Fighting Championship® - www.ufc.com

Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually and 30 live arena events around the world.  UFC programming is distributed in the United States on Viacom, Inc.'s Spike TV and on Comcast, Inc.'s Versus network.  UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada.  Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 130 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.  Ancillary businesses now include UFC.com with over 5 million unique visitors per month, the best-selling UFC "Undisputed" videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym™, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo™ festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a U.S. bimonthly magazine.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com.

DRINK RESPONSIBLY. DISFRUTE CON MODERACION

©2010 CAZADORES IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK AND THE DEER DEVICE IS A TRADEMARK. IMPORTED BY TEQUILA CAZADORES U.S.A., SEAL BEACH, CA. TEQUILAS - EACH 40% ALC. BY VOL.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

(1) 2007 International Wine & Spirit Record (IWSR)

(2) 2007 International Wine & Spirit Record (IWSR)

(3) 2009 The Nielsen Company

SOURCE Tequila CAZADORES