As a general rule of thumb, it's almost always a good sign when a fight card goes five hours between readings of the judges' scorecards. In the case of Saturday night's The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale, which featured a staggering total of nine knockouts and submissions, that rule proved to be correct.

So perhaps it was fitting that UFC President Dana White's heftiest antagonist, Roy "Big Country" Nelson planted the most violent of exclamation points on a weekend of back-to-back UFC events. Nelson dropped Matt Mitrione with a thunderous combination midway through the first round of TUF 16 Finale's main event, and the laundry list of professional fighters watching the action live had plenty to say about it, along with Colton Smith's TUF dominance and Pat Barry's emotional return to the win column.

BIG COUNTRY CRUISES

@roynelsonmma great fight strategy always pays off.Congratulations!

— Royce Gracie (@realroyce) December 16, 2012

BooooooM that's more like it ;) that's the way big country 👍

— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) December 16, 2012

People may not like the way he looks but Fat Boy can fight. #UFConFX

— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) December 16, 2012

I <3 big country

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) December 16, 2012

Cholesterol should be banned as illegal substance in the UFC! How do the UFC fans feel about this?

— Siyar The Great (@SiyarTheGreat) December 16, 2012

Big night for Roy. Earlier he was announced as McDonalds international worker of the year!

— Siyar The Great (@SiyarTheGreat) December 16, 2012

Oh, I am SO growing a beard now @ufc !!!!

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 16, 2012

Mitrione should've stepped back for a second to put his mouthpiece back in. Might've been able to take that shot with a lil more protection

— John Moraga (@chicanojohn) December 16, 2012

@roynelsonmma is trained by @jeffmayweather1!!!

— King Mo (@KingMoFH) December 16, 2012

Man when Roy Nelson took off his shirt dandruff went flying. That was pretty nasty. instagr.am/p/TSJzeLs4jp/

— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) December 16, 2012

"Roy Nelson could be like Santa Claus.. in like... 30n years." #GFwatchingMMA

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) December 16, 2012

SMITH WRESTLES HIS WAY TO 'TUF 16' CROWN

Congrats @coltonsmithmma winner of TUF season 16! I know @mikeyricci will come back stronger. Both men are warriors & should be proud! #fb

— Nate Marquardt (@NathanMarquardt) December 16, 2012

Oh little gray shorts, how do I love thee?

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 16, 2012

I just witnessed this fighting couple hug each other for 15min. It was so beautiful!

— Siyar The Great (@SiyarTheGreat) December 16, 2012

Great job by Colton in the fight. Horrible job in accepting his #Harley Dana looked a little pissed at him not paying attention.

— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) December 16, 2012

Wow Colton Smith is all over Rory MacDonald sorry I'm mean Mike Ricci (same stylist) like a Cheap Suits! Lol #TUFFinale #UFC

— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) December 16, 2012

Man is it possible to win a fight with the guy falling asleep, and I mean not by a choke just by being sooo boring lol

— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) December 16, 2012

Once again, wrestling is the most effective yet the most boring.

— Duane Ludwig (@DUANEBANGCOM) December 16, 2012

"He reminds me of... that guy from Maroon 5..." #GFWatchingMMA about Ricci

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) December 16, 2012

It's awesome to see Kim Winslow's son become the Ultimate Fighter this season. @ufc @ufconfox

— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) December 16, 2012

Thank you everyone for the support. @mikeyricci great job and you'll be back at 155lbs soon enough!

— Firas Zahabi (@Firas_Zahabi) December 16, 2012

BARRY ROCKETS BACK INTO WIN COLUMN

Who doesn't root for Pat Barry right? What a great guy!

— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) December 16, 2012

I think I just woke up Rachel from screaming after Pat Barry's KO! Sorry darlin but whilst you are up watch this brutal KO

— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) December 16, 2012

Nice words Patt Berry (@hypeordie)

— Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) December 16, 2012

Crazy ko by @hypeordie #ufc

— Sean Pierson (@seanpierson) December 16, 2012

That just ruined my night ... At least my daughter dosnt understand what she just saw happen to her uncle Shane.

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) December 16, 2012

Well said @hypeordie And great fight.

— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) December 16, 2012

@hypeordie great job you earned it!

— Leonard Garcia (@badboygarcia) December 16, 2012

Just posted a photo instagr.am/p/TSORVbvZwq/

— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) December 16, 2012