Chinese light heavyweight prospect Liu Ce makes his Octagon debut in his homeland, taking on Levi Rodrigues Jr. at UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song in Shanghai.
Ce (3–1, 0–0 UFC) is a former K-1 kickboxing champion, coming off a first-round knockout of Igor Barabanov in WLF MMA in May. Rodrigues (5–1, 0–1 UFC) is looking to rebound from his first professional loss in July, a second-round TKO against Felipe Franco in his promotional debut.
Ce enters as a -185 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Rodrigues is a +154 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Liu vs. Rodrigues Preview
Liu Ce
- 3–1 (Debut)
- 3–1 (T)KO
- 0–0 SUB
Liu Ce arrives with a decorated kickboxing resume, a former K-1 cruiserweight champion with an 18–3 record and 14 knockouts. Bolstered by a towering 6-foot-5 frame, he’s known for chopping his opponents down with devastating leg kicks.
However, he remains largely unproven in MMA. “The Oriental Dragon,” 29, returned to the cage in October 2024, getting stopped in just his third career bout. He rebounded earlier this year with a first-round stoppage against Igor Barabanov in WLF MMA, though he enters Saturday lacking consistency and experience against legitimate competition.
While his striking is undeniable, Liu will be looking to showcase a more versatile side of his game, one that can navigate incoming pressure and hold strong in the grappling department.
Levi Rodrigues Jr.
- 5–1 (0–1 UFC)
- 5–1 (T)KO
- 0–0 SUB
Levi Rodrigues Jr. only has one thing on his mind when he steps into the cage. The burly Brazilian, 29, marches forward with reckless abandon, hurling haymakers in pursuit of a highlight-reel finish. It’s no surprise that all of his wins — and lone career loss — have come by knockout or TKO.
Rodrigues is still hunting his first statement performance inside the Octagon, fighting to a no-contest with Freddy Vidal on Dana White’s Contender Series before getting stopped by Felipe Franco in his UFC debut. Still, he showed his mettle by landing some heavy shots against the latter.
With a Muay Thai black belt and bad, bad intentions, Rodrigues will look to rejoin the win column against the debuting Liu on Saturday night.
Liu vs. Rodrigues Pick, Best Bet
While Liu Ce’s kickboxing reputation precedes him, MMA is a whole other ballgame. He now faces the hard-hitting Levi Rodrigues Jr., equipped with a more well-rounded fight style and thunderous power. It’s hard to shake the feeling that “Baby Monster” enters Saturday night as a live dog, and his odds of pulling off the upset offer tremendous value.
