The Ultimate Fighter season 16 Finale take place today at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. and is headlined by a heavyweight match-up between TUF 16 coach Roy Nelson and his opposing coach’s replacement, Matt Mitrione.

In the co-headliner, TUF 16 welterweight finalists Mike Ricci and Colton Smith will square off for the highly-coveted traditional Ultimate Fighter grand prize of a six-figure contract with the UFC.

The first fight kicks off at 5:35 p.m. ET (2:35 p.m. PT) on Facebook. Join us here at ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) for play-by-play commentary on all the action. Also, check out our thoughts and predictions for each bout in our staff picks.

TUF 16 Finale quick results:

MAIN CARD (FX, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Roy Nelson def. Matt Mitrione by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (2:58)
  • Colton Smith def. Mike Ricci by unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26) – TUF 16 final
  • Pat Barry def. Shane Del Rosario by knockout (punches) Rd 1 (:26)
  • Melvin Guillard (156) vs. Jamie Varner (156) (bout scrapped due to Varner illness)
  • Dustin Poirier def. Jonathan Brookins by submission (D’arce Choke) Rd 1 (4:15)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Mike Pyle def. James Head by TKO (strikes) Rd 1 (1:55)
  • Johnny Bedford def. Marcos Vinicius by knockout (strikes) Rd 2 (1:00)
  • Rustam Khabilov def. Vinc Pichel by knockout (suplex) Rd 1 (2:15)
  • TJ Waldburger def. Nick Catone by technical submission (triangle choke) Rd 2 (1:04)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 5:35 p.m. ET)

  • Hugo Viana def. Reuben Duran by TKO (punch) Rd 1 (4:05)
  • Mike Rio def. John Cofer by submission (armbar) Rd 3 (4:11)
  • Tim Elliott def. Jared Papazian by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

TUF 16 Finale play-by-play:

(125) Tim Elliott vs. Jared Papazian

Round 1 – Takedown by Elliott, locks on a guillotine but Papazian is free and up and throwing punches, lands a head kick but gets put on his back. Elliott looking for another guillotine, moves to side, but Papazian recovers full guard, tries to get up, but Elliott controls from top, goes for a guillotine and loses top control. Papazian now on top inside full guard. Elliott still working for the choke but Papazian is free. They scramble and Papazian lands an illegal knee to the head/chin of a grounded opponent. Elliott is pretty rocked as the doctor checks him out. Papazian asks, “Was that illegal?” When he threw the knee Elliott’s knee was up, but by the time he hit him, the knee was down. They are going to let it go. Papazian comes out fast. Knee to the body, body kick. But Elliott drops him with a right, puts him on his back and working ground and pound, gets top control and dropping big punches and elbows. Elliott may have been playing possum. Papazian gets to his feet as Ellioot presses him to the cage. Knee from Papazian to the gut as Elliott backs out. They trade big shots. Papazian puts him against the cage. Nice dirty boxing from Elliott. Papazian backs out, Elliott ducks a jumping spin kick. PMN scores it 10-9 Elliott.

Round 2 – Elliott doesn’t look very clear-headed between rounds. Eyes look foggy. Left hook from Papazian. Right from Elliott. Rousey is ringside for her teammate Papazian. Elliott goes for a single and puts Papazian down. Elliott dropping elbows from side control. Papazian gets to his feet, Elliott squares up. Uppercut from Papazian, body kick. Body kick from Elliott, but eats a big uppercut. Eliott with another takedown, turning the corner with a single. Papazian pops right up, nose bleeding. They square up. Switch kick from Elliott. Papazian with a punch combo. Two minutes to go. Jumping knee from Papazian, one two with an uppercut. High kick from Papazian blocked. Low high from Papazian. Briefly clinch, they square up again. Front kick from Elliott, punch combo scores. Right from Papazian. Spinning body kick from Elliott. Jab, jab from Papazian but gets put on his back and eats some ground and pound before the bell. PMN scores it 10-9 Elliott.

Round 3 – Papazian puts Elliott on his back. Elliott looking for a foot, holding it as he eats some hammerfists. Ref stands them up. Left from Elliott, jabs from Papazian. Front kick to the body from Elliott drops Papazian. Elliott mounts him with ground and pound. Papazian trying to scramble but is getting blasted with punches and bleeding. Elliott has his back with both hooks in and landing punches, looking for the choke. Papazian turns to his back and is mounted, gives up his back again. Blood everywhere. Elliott locks on the choke with one arm. Papazian with two on one defending. Gets to one knee and now to his feet. They trade punches. Elliott with another takedown, under a minute to go and is looking for the back again, one hook in, landing punches. PMN scores it 10-8 and 30-26 for Elliott.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Tim Elliott def. Jared Papazian by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

(155) John Cofer vs. Mike Rio

Round 1 – Body kick from Cofer. Rio pushes Cofer to the cage. Knees to the thigh from Rio. Right hand on the break. Big inside leg kick from Rio, outside now. Cofer with two big lefts that hurt Rio. Rio shoots, pushes him to the cage, knee. Rio controlling him against the cage with an underhook. He backs out. Left counter from Cofer. Rio shoots, puts him on his back, inside full guard. Elbow off his back from Cofer. Nice left from Rio, again. Cofer attacks the leg, sweeps, now on top inside full guard. Cofer with an elbow, again. Rio with one from the bottom. Rio attacks the leg, trips Cofer at the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 Cofer.

Round 2 – Leg kick, left hand from Cofer. Rio attacks with punches but gets countered. Nice straight left from Cofer but Rio scoops him up for a big slam. Cofer looking for an omoplata and Rio stands up over him, eats an up kick. Ref stands them up. Right from Cofer. Nice left from Cofer as Rio’s hands are down. Punch exchange, body kick from Cofer. Leg kick from Rio. They tie up, knees from Rio. Cofer pushes him to the cage. Knees from Cofer, one from Rio. They square up. Rio shoots, gets Cofer on his back and moves to full mount. Cofer gives up his back, stands up and Rio hangs on with both hooks in and a minute to go. Cofer shakes him off and lands on top in half guard. Rio explodes to his feet, lands a knee to the body, eats a left and they trade knees at the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 Rio.

Round 3 – Takedown from Rio, inside guard. Rio moves to side control. Elbows to the body as he controls Cofer from top. Rio attacks Cofer’s left arm from half gaurd. Cofer is free of immediate danger, tries to give up his back but Rio goes for an armbar. Cofer escapes it and now is on top, inside guard, he postures up with punches with just over a minute to go. Rio goes for an armbar. Cofer gets one arm under it and is fighting it hard but Rio cranks it, using Cofer’s other arm as a fulcrum and Cofer taps out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Mike Rio def. John Cofer by submission (armbar) Rd 3 (4:11)

(135) Reuben Duran vs. Hugo Viana

Round 1 – Duran (black trunks) Viana (yellow/green trunks). Viana lands the first punch, throws a combo next and drops Duran. Staggers him again with a big right as Duran gets to his feet. He’s okay for now, he ties Viana up against the cage with double underhooks. Viana gets him turned around. Knee from Duran. Viana backs out. One two from Viana. Right from Viana. They swing big, both just miss with heavy combos. Leg kick inside from Duran. Overhand right from Viana drops Duran. He gets up though. Body shot from Viana. One more overhand right and Duran gets knocked 180 degrees face down. Beautiful. This was Viana’s first win outside his country of Brazil.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Hugo Viana def. Reuben Duran by TKO (punch) Rd 1 (4:05)

(170) T.J. Waldburger vs. Nick Catone

Round 1 – Touch gloves, left from Waldburger, clinch against the cage. Knee from Catone, again, and a right on the break. High kick from Waldburger, he shoots, sprawl from Catone. Goes for the back, gets a headlock and hip tosses Waldburger but he bounces right up and keeps clinched, knee from Waldburger to the thigh, drops levels for a single, lets it go. Hip toss from Catone but Waldburger right back up. Catone clinched up, pressing him to the cage. Waldburger looking for a standing kimura, drops down with it, pulling guard. Catone defending well. Lets it go. Catone stands up, lands a big right to the face. Waldburger hops up. Catone with a body lock. Waldburger drops levels and puts him down, scramble, Catone has a body lock from the back. Waldburger tries to roll for a leg, no dice. PMN scores it 10-9 Catone.

Round 2 – Head kick from Catone, but he gets dropped with a right, he’s hurt and Waldburger goes for a guillotine, switches to a triangle. Raises his hand to tap, decides not to. Waldburger gives him an elbow and referee Herb Dean realizes he’s unconscious and stops it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: TJ Waldburger def. Nick Catone by technical submission (triangle choke) Rd 2 (1:04)

(155) Rustam Khabilov vs. Vinc Pichel

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Leg kick Pichel. Right left right from Khabilov. He looks for a leg, and puts Pichel on his back. Khabilov on top in half guard landing a few punches. Pichel gets to his feet, but Khabilov gives him a beautiful suplex. Repeat. Beautiful. Oh my god, he did it one more time and the last one knocked Pichel out. Khabilov lands a few punches but he was done. Keep an eye on Khabilov. This is his UFC debut, but is on a 4-fight win streak.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Rustam Khabilov def. Vinc Pichel by knockout (suplex) Rd 1 (2:15)

(135) Marcos Vinicius vs. Johnny Bedford

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Leg kick Bedford, followed by a punch combo that backs Vinicius up. Left punch, right leg kick from Bedford. Vinicius jumps on a guillotine attempt, lets it go. Bedord on top inside full guard. He steps over to half guard, lands a nice left as Vinicius tries to defend the ground and pound. Half butterfly guard from Vinicius. Bedford moves to side control, Vinicius recovers full guard. 2:30 go go, Bedford stands and lets Vinicius up. They exchange some punches. Jab from Vinicius. Jab from Bedford. Front kick from Vinicius, he gets dropped with a punch. Bedford follows him to the ground, takes side control, gets a mounted crucifix for a split second. Scramble to the feet, clinched, Bedford pushes him to the cage. 10 seconds left. PMN scores the round 10-9 Bedford.

Round 2 – Body head combo from Bedford. Body kick from Vinicius. Then lands a low kick to the groin. Time called. Spinning kick to the body from Vinicius. Bedford drops him with a right, he’s hurt, Bedford with a kick to the body. Then finishes him off with heavy heavy punches and Vinicius goes out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Johnny Bedford def. Marcos Vinicius by knockout (strikes) Rd 2 (1:00)

(170) Mike Pyle vs. James Head

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Head flashes a jab. Left hook from Head maybe touches the chin. Body shot leg kick from Pyle. Head scores with a punch backing Pyle up, brief clinch. Head stuns Pyle with a big left, clinch, knee from Pyle. Head backs out. Overhand right from Pyle. Head is HUGE. Clinch, big body shots from Head. Thai plum from Pyle, lands a knee to the body, a knee to the face and head goes down, finishes him off with punches to the face. Referee Mazzagatti stops it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Mike Pyle def. James Head by TKO (strikes) Rd 1 (1:55)

(145) Dustin Poirier vs. Jonathan Brookins

Round 1 – Jab, jab from Brookins, leg kick from Poirier. Hook to the body from Brookins. It goes into an all-out war as he backs Poirier against the cage. Brookins lands some heavy punches. Poirier ducks and dodges and counters. They reset and square up with Poirier’s back to the cage again. Brookins seems to get the better of the exchange. Poirier pushes him to the cage, Brookins turns him around. They move to the center. NIce right counter from Poirier. Brookins catches a kick, dumps him but Poirier is up and lands some big shots that puts Brookins in retreat mode. Poirier landing some nice punches. Brookins fires back. Brookins leaving his chin open, gets tagged hard, tries to shoot. Stuffed. Poirier backs him to the cage now and lands some big shots forcing the shot. Poirier locks up a D’arce and Brookins taps out. Fight of the night easily. Submission of the night. And arguably a candidate for “round of the year”.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Dustin Poirier def. Jonathan Brookins by submission (D’arce Choke) Rd 1 (4:15)

(HW) Pat Barry vs. Shane del Rosario

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Body kick from Del Rosario. Leg kick from Barry checked. Leg kick outside. Clinched, knee from Del Rosario, again. Pushes Barry to the cage, knee to thigh and body. Body shot, knee to the body, goes for the takedown. Barry grabs the neck, lets it go. Del Rosario looking for the takedown, Barry pulls him off, clinched. Knee to the body from Del Rosario, again. Again. Underhooks from Barry. Knee to the body from Del Rosario, looks for a leg, lets it go. Big body shot from Del Rosario, again. Barry pushes him off. Thigh kick from Del Rosario. Jab from Barry. Big leg kick after faking the punch. Del Rosario with a leg kick. Del Rosario shoots, pushes him to the cage, grabs a single, turns the corner for the takedown. Goes for Barry’s back, one hook in, goes for the choke, no hooks in. One hook in now. Barry safe for now but both hooks in. Del Rosario goes for the arm, omoplata, lets the arm go but has his back with one hook in. Barry on his knees as Del Rosario rides him, both hooks in, goes for the arm. Barry is safe, moves to side control, lands a punch. PMN scores it 10-9 Del Rosario.

Round 2 – Del Rosario breathing hard. Right hook from Barry. Huge overhand left from Barry hurts Del Rosario badly. Barry explodes with a right hand, another and then one more right to the chin and Del Rosario goes out cold, snapping Del Rosario’s head back. Wow! KO of the night!

OFFICIAL RESULT: Pat Barry def. Shane Del Rosario by knockout (punches) Rd 1 (:26)

(170) Mike Ricci vs. Colton Smith

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Smith ducks a kick for a takedown, eats some elbows. Ricci bursts to his feet. Smith is on his like stink on poo. Clinched against the cage, picks him up and puts him on his butt. Ricci back up briefly but gets dragged down, gets to his feet but Smith with a hook in trying to get on his back. Someone yells, “Mike, you’re bleeding.” Smith gets him down, both hooks in, flattens out but Ricci gets up to one knee. Smith softening him up. Smith has both hooks in with his back to the cage, looking for the choke. Ricci defending with 2:00 to go. Ricci scrambles to his feet. High five. Smith much lighter on his feet. Ricci trying to measure him. Smith goes for a single, Ricci defends but gets pushed to the cage, body lock, gets him down. Knees to the thighs from Smith. PMN scores it 10-9 Smith.

Round 2 – Touch gloves. Leg kick from Smith, takes a low kick to the groin. Ref doesn’t call it and Smith goes after him. Ricci complaining but the fight continues. Clinched up, he puts Ricci to the cage, gets the takedown. Smith trying to mount. Smith now riding his back, putting knees into his thighs, looking to get his hooks in. Got one hook in, going for the choke, Ricci is out and up but Smith on him with the body lock takedown. Ricci breathing hard. Ricci softens him up with punches. Under 2 minutes to go. Both hooks in and Smith goes for the choke, it’s over the chin, lets it go. With his own back to the cage, Smith stays on his back with hooks in until the bell. PMN score it 10-9 Smith.

Round 3 – Big leg kick from Smith, body kick, clinches with the body lock and drags him back down. Body lock from behind, one hook in. Smith looks for the choke, but it’s over the jaw/neck crank. Sitting position now, Smith still on his back looking for the choke. Full mount, gives up his back, punches from Smith. Both hooks in, Smith still beating on him  looking for the choke now and then. Ricci gives up his back, gets to his knee but Smith stops his advance and only one minute is left. A few boos from the crowd but this is domination. Ricci gets out, going for Smith’s back, both hooks in with 30 seconds left. Ricci goes for an armbar, Smith is free and on his back now and lands punches until the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 Smith and the fight 30-27 for Smith.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Colton Smith def. Mike Ricci by unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26)

Colton Smith is The Ultimate Fighter season 16 winner!

(HW) Roy Nelson vs. Matt Mitrione

Round 1 – Nelson dry as a bone. Left from Matt. Nice left from Matt, Roy blocks a head kick. Again. Left from Roy. Roy blocks the kick again. Roy clinches up with a body lock, looking for the trip takedown. Matt turns him to the cage. Knee to the gut from Matt., knee to thigh, nice elbow on the break. Roy blocks a head kick. Big right from Matt. Big body kick from Matt. Roy lands a couple shots, knocks Roy’s gumshield out. Matt lands some big kicks and punches. Roy fires back with punches, huge uppercut and left hook and Matt goes down. Roy finishes him off with big shots and this thing is over.Roy is such a beast. The last of the Mohicans.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Roy Nelson def. Matt Mitrione by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (2:58)

###

Follow ProMMAnow.com on Twitter @PROMMA

Got Alpha Brain? Get 10% off your next purchase with the code: PROMMA

Get smart here: www.onnit.com

3 thoughts on “TUF 16 Finale LIVE results and play-by-play”

Leave a Reply