By Steve Ficca, FightTicker.com Blogger

Newsday.com recently spoke with Phillipe Nover, lightweight finalist in The Ultimate Fighter Season 8. Heavily favored throughout the series, Nover lost a one-sided fight to Efrain Escudero in the finale last December. The former NYC nurse is now preparing for his official UFC debut at UFC 98 against lightweight prospect Kyle Bradley.

By Pramit Mohapatra

John Moody of TriStateFighter.com produced a piece for FoxNews.com in which he followed TUF 8 runner up Phillipe Nover's training in advance of his UFC 98 fight against lightweight Kyle Bradley. Nover has a great story and he's a difficult guy not to root for. I'll certainly be watching his progress in the UFC and this fight, after a loss to Efrain Escudero in the TUF 8 Finale, will be his first fight under the bright lights of a PPV show.

Video after the jump...

By Mike Menninger, FightTicker.com blogger

I don't know what it is with these effing Browning kids. Some video from the upcoming season has been leaked (Episode 3, to be exact), and it features the antics of... you guessed it... Rob Browning. Check out the vid after the jump.

By Pramit Mohapatra

TUF 8 alum and FightTicker.com blogger UFC light heavyweight Eliot Marshall will now face fellow TUF 8 alum Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 97, according to MMAWeekly.com. According to the report, Marshall's original opponent, Mike Ciesnolevicz, has had to withdraw due to an unspecified injury.

From MMAWeekly.com:

By Bryan Levick, FightTicker.com blogger

MMAJunkie.com is reporting that bout agreements have been finalized and UFC 98 will see former TUF 8 housemates George Roop and Dave Kaplan go head to head. Kaplan is coming off a 2nd round submission loss to Junie Browning and Roop is coming off a split decision loss to Shane Nelson. Both fights took place on TUF 8 finale.

More from MMAJunkie.com:

By Bryan Levick, FightTicker.com Blogger

FiveOuncesofPain.com is reporting that TUF 8 contestant Shane Nelson will be squaring off against UFC 91 fight of the night winner Aaron Riley. Nelson is coming off a split-decision victory over TUF 8 housemate George Roop on the TUF 8 Finale while Riley is coming off a thrilling victory over recently exiled Jorge Gurgel at UFC 91 in a fight that was truly a stand-up war.

According to FiveOuncesofPain.com:

By Bryan Levick, FightTicker.com blogger

Last night I had the extreme pleasure of speaking with TUF 8 finalist Phillipe Nover. We discussed a variety of topics ranging from his job as a nurse, his time on TUF 8 and his future plans. Phillipe was very engaging and his pure love of MMA really came out during our conversation.

By David T. Mayeda, PhD, FightTicker.com Social Issues Contributor

In the matches that mattered most on last night’s Ultimate Fighter 8 finale, fans saw MMA fighters with strong wrestling backgrounds come through with extremely impressive victories.

As the fighters refill themselves after cutting weight (some more than others), thoughts turn to the fights themselves, the matchups and who deserves to win, as well as who deserves to lose. Set aside the drama, and look at the fights as they are. For the sake of argument, it’s important to only look at the real main card: the two final fights and the two additional UFC matchups added to deliver hype.

Another season of The Ultimate Fighter is in the books. What are your thoughts on the reality show, the talent, the hijinx, and tonight's TUF 8 Finale (live 9 PM ET on Spike TV)? Post your thoughts here before, during, and after the fights. You can even use the words "Junie Browning" in your comments.

MAIN CARD

• Efrain Escudero (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (155)
• Ryan Bader (205) vs. Vinicius Magalhaes (205)
• Kevin Burns (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (171)
• Wilson Gouveia (189) vs. Jason MacDonald (184)
• Junie Browning (156) vs. Dave Kaplan (156)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Shane Primm (202) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (205)
• Jules Bruchez (205) vs. Eliot Marshall (203)
• Kyle Kingsbury (205) vs. Tom Lawlor (204)
• Shane Nelson (156) vs. George Roop (153)
• Roli Delgado (155) vs. John Polakowski (152)

Wilson Gouveia decided to weigh in fat. All the other fighters on the card made weight.

From UFC.com:

"Gouveia did not make weight and for safety reasons, the Nevada State Athletic Commission won't allow him to make a second weight cutting attempt. The bout will go on at a catch weight of 189 pounds, and Gouveia will forfeit 20% of his purse to MacDonald."

Philippe Nover

- Taking Anderson Silva comparisons all in stride:

"I just took it as a compliment. In no way am I saying I am the next Anderson Silva."

- Also believes that his semi-final fight with George Roop was a good test for him despite Roop's hand injury. But points to the final with Efrain as his biggest test to date.

"George Roop is a phenomenal fighter...he was a good test for me. Efrain would be a true test. He's undefeated and he has more experience than me. He's a test that I'm here to take."

The Ultimate Fighter 8 finalist Philippe Nover has been awarded a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu by Alexandre "Soca" Freitas December 6th.

Nover states in his blog, "It has been a long journey and I have finally arrived. I've been training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu for over 8 years. To me, obtaining a black belt brings the art to full circle."

Nover will bring the black belt into the cage against Efrain Escudero Saturday at The Palms in Las Vegas to determine this season's lightweight champ.

Curtis Clontz is more forgiving than I am, and he posted this piece on TUF 8 that's worth checking out.