The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale Full Fight Card, Date & Details
The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale
United States
Main Card • Final
R1, 2:58
R3, 5:00
Tournament Final
Canada
R2, 0:26
Knockout of the Night
R1, 4:15
Prelims • Final
R1, 1:55
R2, 1:00
Brazil
Russia
R1, 2:15
R2, 1:04
Submission of the Night
Early Prelims • Final
R1, 4:05
R3, 4:11
R3, 5:00
Fight of the Night
Official Event Results
TUF 16 Final
$40k Bonus
$40k FOTN
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$40,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: Tim Elliott and Jared Papazian each earned $40,000 for their relentless three-round flyweight contest.
Knockout of the Night: Pat Barry collected $40,000 for his dramatic second-round comeback knockout over Shane Del Rosario.
Submission of the Night: TJ Waldburger received $40,000 for rendering Nick Catone unconscious with a second-round triangle choke.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $24,000 | $24,000 | — | $48,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | — | $12,000 | |
| WIN | $8,000 | $8,000 | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $8,000 | — | — | $8,000 | |
| WIN | $22,000 | $22,000 | $40,000 | $84,000 | |
| LOSS | $20,000 | — | — | $20,000 | |
| WIN | $17,000 | $17,000 | — | $34,000 | |
| LOSS | $20,000 | — | — | $20,000 | |
| WIN | $39,000 | $39,000 | — | $78,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | — | $12,000 | |
| WIN | $8,000 | $8,000 | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $8,000 | — | — | $8,000 | |
| WIN | $8,000 | $8,000 | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $8,000 | — | — | $8,000 | |
| WIN | $14,000 | $14,000 | $40,000 | $68,000 | |
| LOSS | $13,000 | — | — | $13,000 | |
| WIN | $8,000 | $8,000 | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $8,000 | — | — | $8,000 | |
| WIN | $8,000 | $8,000 | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $8,000 | — | — | $8,000 | |
| WIN | $6,000 | $6,000 | $40,000 | $52,000 | |
| LOSS | $6,000 | — | $40,000 | $46,000 |
*Purses and disclosed salaries officially reported by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Totals reflect official base pay, contractual win bonuses, and UFC post-fight performance bonuses ($40,000 each). These figures do not include discretionary locker room bonuses, promotional show bonuses, or third-party sponsorship pay.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale
Rustam Khabilov delivered one of the rarest finishes in UFC history, knocking out Vinc Pichel with three belly-to-back suplexes and punches at 2:15 of round 1.
Active U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Colton Smith became the first active-duty service member in history to win a TUF tournament title by defeating Mike Ricci.
Colton Smith completed 7 takedowns against Mike Ricci, establishing the record for the most takedowns landed in a welterweight The Ultimate Fighter tournament final.
Tim Elliott connected on 189 total strikes against Jared Papazian, setting a new promotional three-round record for flyweight striking output in 2012.
Two judges scored Elliott vs. Papazian 30-25, producing one of the most lopsided unanimous decisions in the history of the UFC flyweight division.
Pat Barry survived intense submission pressure in round one before scoring a walk-off knockout 26 seconds into round two, earning Knockout of the Night.
Dustin Poirier became one of the few featherweights to score multiple D’Arce choke finishes in the Octagon, tapping Jonathan Brookins at 4:15 of round one.
Matt Mitrione saved the headliner on short notice after Shane Carwin suffered a knee injury, stepping in to face fellow TUF 10 alum Roy Nelson.
Roy Nelson delivered his third career first-round knockout in the UFC, dropping Matt Mitrione with a signature overhand right at 2:58 of the opening frame.
Mike Pyle secured his third consecutive first-round finish inside the Octagon, overwhelming James Head with knees and punches in just 1:55.
Eight of the eleven bouts ended via knockout or submission, making TUF 16 Finale one of the highest finishing-percentage cards in modern UFC history.
Tim Elliott vs. Jared Papazian made history as the first flyweight bout in The Ultimate Fighter Finale history to be awarded Fight of the Night honors.
When and where did The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale take place?
The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale took place on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event between Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione?
Roy Nelson defeated Matt Mitrione via TKO (punches) at 2:58 of Round 1 in their heavyweight main event clash.
Why did Matt Mitrione fight Roy Nelson instead of Shane Carwin?
TUF 16 coach Shane Carwin was forced to withdraw from the bout in mid-November after suffering a severe knee injury in training, allowing Matt Mitrione to step up on short notice.
Who won The Ultimate Fighter Season 16 Welterweight tournament?
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Colton Smith defeated Mike Ricci via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) to win the TUF 16 trophy and a six-figure UFC contract.
How did Rustam Khabilov finish Vinc Pichel?
Rustam Khabilov scored one of the most iconic finishes in UFC history by executing a series of overhead belly-to-back suplexes followed by ground strikes, resulting in a TKO at 2:15 of Round 1.
Who won the post-fight bonuses at The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale?
Four fighters earned $40,000 performance bonuses: Tim Elliott vs. Jared Papazian (Fight of the Night), Pat Barry (Knockout of the Night), and TJ Waldburger (Submission of the Night).
How did Pat Barry defeat Shane Del Rosario?
After surviving heavy submission attacks from Del Rosario in the first round, Pat Barry rallied early in round two to land a thunderous overhand punch, scoring a KO at 0:26 of Round 2.
How did Dustin Poirier beat Jonathan Brookins?
Dustin Poirier out-struck Jonathan Brookins in a high-paced standup exchange before securing a D’Arce choke submission at 4:15 of Round 1.
What was the attendance and live gate for The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale?
The event drew an official crowd of 2,427 spectators and generated a live gate of $318,875 at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Who were the commentators and ring announcer for the event?
The event was called by cage-side commentators Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan, with Bruce Buffer serving as the official Octagon announcer.
Why did Tim Elliott receive 30-25 scorecards against Jared Papazian?
Tim Elliott dominated the bout with 7 takedowns and 189 total strikes, and Papazian had 1 point deducted in round one for an illegal knee, resulting in scores of 30–26, 30–25, and 30–25.
How fast did Mike Pyle finish James Head?
Mike Pyle earned a dominant TKO victory via knee and punches at 1:55 of Round 1, picking up his third consecutive first-round finish in the UFC.
Which networks televised The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale?
The main card aired live on FX in the United States, preliminary bouts were broadcast on FUEL TV, and the early prelims streamed live on Facebook.
Who did Johnny Bedford defeat at TUF 16 Finale?
Johnny Bedford defeated Brazilian bantamweight Marcos Vinicius via KO (punches) at 1:00 of Round 2 after scoring two knockdowns in the fight.
Did Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione ever fight in a rematch?
Yes. The two met in a rematch over five years later at Bellator 194 on February 16, 2018, where Matt Mitrione defeated Roy Nelson via majority decision in the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix.
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