Liu Ce scores first-round knockout against Levi Rodrigues at UFC Shanghai

Liu Ce delivered the goods in his official Octagon debut earlier this morning (Sat., Aug. 29, 2026) at UFC Shanghai LIVE on Paramount+ from inside the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China, putting a violent stop to Levi Rodrigues with a blistering first-round knockout (punch). This weekend was lining up to be a coming […]

Liu Ce threw the kitchen sink at Levi Rodrigues Jr. and left him eating the canvas at UFC Shanghai.

Liu Ce detonated Levi Rodrigues at UFC Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 29: Liu Ce of China knocks out Levi Rodrigues Jr. of Brazil in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Liu Ce just had a UFC debut to remember. On Saturday, Liu made his first octagon appearance, facing Levi Rodrigues Jr. on the main card of UFC Shanghai. The former K-1 kickboxing champion only had four MMA fights to his name, but was nevertheless a favorite over the Contender Series product, and he showed why, face-planting Rodrigues in the first round after an insane back-and-forth war. Check out Liu’s incredible debut knockout below. Liu Ce put Levi Rodrigues Jr. OUT COLD in his #UFC debut at #UFCShanghai! 👊🥶pic.twitter.com/Fu5B2ZunpW — MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 29, 2026 Liu and Rodrigues wasted no time once the bell rang, getting right down to throwing haymakers at each other. Rodrigues even impressed against the kickboxing champion early, buzzing Liu with power shots, but midway through the round, Liu dropped Rodrigues with a crisp punch to the temple that signaled the beginning of the end. Rodrigues got up and swung for all he was worth, cracking Liu a couple of times in the process, but his legs were still shaky, and eventually Liu landed a missile of a right hand that spun Rodrigues face-first to the mat.