• TUF 16 Finale

Nelson nails Mitrione as Smith dominates Ricci

Roy Nelson stuns Matt Mitrione © Getty Images

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Roy Nelson topped off Saturday's TUF 16 Finale with a knockout of Matt Mitrione to boost his credentials in the UFC heavyweight division.

Mitrione, stepping in on short notice for Shane Carwin, stood and traded with Nelson, but that was always going to end one way as Nelson floored his man at 2.58 of round one.

An uppercut sparked the beginning of the end for Mitrione, who had earlier lost his mouthguard, and Nelson leapt all over his rival, dropping bombs for the victory.

The TUF 16 final was won by Colton Smith, who dominated Mike Ricci to earn the six-figure UFC contract. Tristar gym product Ricci came with the reputation, having produced the Knockout of the Series, but Smith's grinding, grappling style was made to beat the Canadian - earning a 30-27 30-27 30-26 victory.

In the heavyweight division, Pat Barry survived a difficult first round against Shane Del Rosario before delivering the Knockout of the Night 26 seconds into the second. Del Rosario threatened with submissions early on, but Barry landed a booming left hook when they returned from their stools and followed it with a right that was so emphatic that he did not even jump in for the follow-up.

Elsewhere on the card, Dustin Poirier delivered the expected first-round victory over Jonathan Brookins, winning by his favoured D'Arce choke at 4.15 of the opening stanza. Poirier was bouncing back from his first UFC defeat to the Korean Zombie, and the 23-year-old showed he still has plenty of class in the featherweight division.

TUF 16 Finale results:
Roy Nelson def. Matt Mitrione via TKO at 2.58 of Round 1
Colton Smith def. Mike Ricci via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 30-26)
Pat Barry def. Shane del Rosario via KO at 0.26 of Round 2
Dustin Poirier def. Jonathan Brookins via D'Arce choke at 4.15 of Round 1
Mike Pyle def. James Head via TKO at 1.55 of Round 1
Johnny Bedford def. Marcos Vinicius via KO at 1.00 of Round 2
Rustam Khabilov def. Vinc Pichel via KO at 2.15 of Round 1
TJ Waldburger def. Nick Catone via triangle choke at 1.04 of Round 2
Hugo Viana def. Reuben Duran via TKO at 4.05 of Round 1
Mike Rio def. John Cofer via armbar at 4.11 of Round 3
Tim Elliott def. Jared Papazian via unanimous decision (30-25 30-25 30-26)

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