Revitalized welterweight veteran Mike Pyle led the disclosed payroll for Saturday’s The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale, pocketing $78,000 for his TKO victory over James Head, according to figures released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Fighting on the final undercard bout of the night, Pyle rebounded from early trouble to crush Head ($12,000) with a knee inside the clinch and extend his streak of first-round knockouts to three.
Heavyweights Roy Nelson and Pat Barry topped the remaining payroll. Nelson earned $48,000 for his first-round knockout of fellow TUF 10 alumnus Matt Mitrione ($12,000) in the night’s main event, while Barry secured a $44,000 payday by defeating former Strikeforce contender Shane del Rosario ($20,000).
The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale took place December 15, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The entire TUF 16 Finale payroll can be seen below, however these figures do not represent a fighter’s total earnings, as sponsorship money and discretionary post-fight bonuses are not publicly disclosed.
Additionally, Barry, T.J. Waldburger, Tim Elliot and Jared Papazian pocketed $40,000 post-fight bonuses for their work.
FX main card:
Roy Nelson ($24,000 + $24,000 = $48,000) def. Matt Mitrione ($12,000)
Colton Smith ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. Mike Ricci ($8,000)
Pat Barry ($22,000 + $22,000 =$44,000) def. Shane del Rosario ($20,000)
Dustin Poirier ($17,000 + $17,000 = $34,000) def. Jonathan Brookins ($20,000)
FUEL TV preliminary card:
Mike Pyle ($39,000 + $39,000 = $78,000) def. James Head ($12,000)
Johnny Bedford ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. Marcos Vinicius ($8,000)
Rustam Khabilov ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. Vinc Pichel ($8,000)
Anthony Waldburger ($14,000 + $14,000 = $28,000) def. Nick Catone ($13,000)
Facebook preliminary card:
Hugo Viana ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. Reuben Duran ($8,000)
Mike Rio ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. John Cofer ($8,000)
Tim Elliott ($6,000 + $6,000 = $12,000) def. Jared Papazian ($6,000)