Underdog Efrain Escudero took home $16,000 for his efforts against heavy favorite Phillipe Nover at “The Ultimate Fighter 8” Finale on Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, according to figures released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Nover, a nurse from Brooklyn, N.Y., took in $8,000 for his unanimous decision loss, but fans have likely not seen the last of him in the Octagon.

Escudero, who was awarded a multi-fight, low six-figure UFC contract, and his 14 housemates also earned $16,000 for their victories and $8,000 in their losses.

American Top Team’s Wilson Gouveia was the night’s biggest breadwinner with $36,800, despite having to hand over 20 percent ($9,200) of his purse to opponent Jason MacDonald for missing weight on Friday. Gouveia knocked down MacDonald in the first round, and landed well-placed elbows to cut the Canadian’s forehead open en route to a TKO finish. Middleweight MacDonald left the Octagon $35,200 richer.

In a welterweight rematch, Anthony Johnson avenged a July loss to Kevin Burns and made $18,000 (including a $9,000 bonus). Burns earned $7,000.

“The Ultimate Fighter 8” Finale Payouts


Efrain Escudero -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
Phillipe Nover -- $8,000
Vinicius Magalhaes -– $8,000
Ryan Bader -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
Wilson Gouveia –- $36,800 (including $18,400 bonus)
Jason MacDonald -- $35,200 (including $9,200 of Gouveia’s purse)
Anthony Johnson –- $18,000 (including $9,000 bonus)
Kevin Burns -- $7,000
David Kaplan -- $8,000
Junie Allen Browning -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
Shane Primm –- $8,000
Krzysztof Soszynski -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
Jules Bruchez –- $8,000
Eliot Marshall -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
George Roop –- $8,000
Shane Nelson -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
Tom Lawlor –- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)
Kyle Kingsbury -- $8,000
John Polakowski –- $8,000
Roli Delgado -- $16,000 (including $8,000 bonus)