UFC Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 16 payouts and salaries: Mike Pyle trumps Roy Nelson and Pat Barry for top earnings with $78,000

Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 16 finale payouts for those who competed at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) "Nelson vs. Mitrione" event this past Saturday night (Dec. 15, 2012) from "The Joint" at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas were released to MMAmania.com earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

"Big Country" made big bucks with a $48,000 payday.

He still finished in second place, however, as longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Mike Pyle took home a $78,000 check for putting the screws to James Head ($12,000). In addition, fist-flinging fan favorite Pat Barry banked boku bucks for beating the brakes off Shane del Rosario ($20,000).

Here are the complete TUF 16 finale payouts and salaries:

Roy Nelson: $48,000 ($24,000 to show, $24,000 to win)
Matt Mitrione: $12,000
Nelson def. Mitrione via technical knockout

Colton Smith: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Mike Ricci: $8,000
Smith def. Ricci via unanimous decision

Pat Barry: $44,000 ($22,000 to show, $22,000 to win)
Shane del Rosario: $20,000
Barry def. Del Rosario via knockout

Dustin Poirier: $34,000 ($17,000 to show, $17,000 to win)
Jonathan Brookins: $20,000
Poirier def. Brookins via submission

Mike Pyle: $78,000 ($39,000 to show, $39,000 to win)
James Head: $12,000
Pyle def. Head via technical knockout

Johnny Bedford: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Marcos Vinicius: $8,000
Bedford def. Vinicius via knockout

Rustam Khabilov: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Vinc Pichel: $8,000
Khabilov def. Pichel via technical knockout

T.J. Waldburger: $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win)
Nick Catone: $13,000
Waldburger def. Catone via submission

Hugo Viana: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Reuben Duran: $8,000
Viana def. Duran via knockout

Mike Rio: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
John Cofer: $6,000
Rio def. Cofer via submission

Tim Elliott: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)
Jared Papazian: $6,000
Elliot def. Papazian via unanimous decision

The total disclosed payroll for TUF 16 finale was $447,000.

Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments such as fight bonuses, among others. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.

For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for "Nelson vs. Mitrione" click here. In addition, Melvin Guillard ($42,000) and Jamie Varner ($12,000) were awarded their "show" money despite not competing.

See why here.

For complete TUF 16 finale results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.