Liu Ce meets Levi Rodrigues Jr. in a light-weight heavyweight bout on the UFC Struggle Evening: Nurmagomedov vs. Track fundamental card on August 29 at Shanghai’s SPD Financial institution Oriental Sports activities Heart. The matchup modified late after Junior Tafa withdrew for undisclosed causes, leaving Rodrigues Jr. to take the project on 5 days’ discover.
Liu Ce enters UFC Shanghai as a modest betting favourite over Levi Rodrigues Jr., with the market leaning towards the Chinese language kickboxer’s measurement, attain and ending file. The short-notice opponent change provides volatility, although, making this a battle the place the most secure angle could also be a small Liu moneyline play somewhat than chasing a heavy stake.
The newest odds with Azerbaijan casino sites listing Liu round -185 to -205, with Rodrigues Jr. priced between +155 and +170. That interprets to an implied likelihood of roughly 65% for Liu at -185 whereas Rodrigues sits in clear underdog territory. The road opened as a choose’em and moved towards Liu, indicating early market help for the home-country debutant in Shanghai, China.
Liu Ce vs. Levi Rodrigues Jr. Odds, Picks and Betting Preview for UFC Shanghai
Liu is 3-1 in skilled MMA, with every of his wins ending inside the space. His newest outing got here in Might, when he stopped Igor Barabanov late within the first spherical with leg kicks and punches. The 29-year-old has rather more expertise underneath kickboxing guidelines: an 18-3 file with 14 knockout or TKO wins, plus the 2023 Okay-1 Openweight Grand Prix title and the Okay-1 cruiserweight championship.
That background offers Liu a well-recognized path to victory. At 6-foot-5 with a listed 78-inch attain, he has the body to occupy area and work from kicking vary. His file contains a number of leg-kick stoppages, and his proper hand has featured in a number of Okay-1 finishes. Rodrigues must keep away from letting Liu settle at vary, the place low kicks and straight pictures can flip an in depth matchup right into a one-way battle shortly.
Rodrigues Jr. brings a 5-1 MMA file, though his UFC introduction didn’t go to plan. He misplaced by second-round TKO to Felipe Franco in July after getting into that bout as the favourite. Earlier than reaching the UFC, Rodrigues gained on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in October, however a Nevada Athletic Fee suspension associated to a constructive take a look at for nandrolone metabolites delayed his first official UFC look.
There may be additionally a easy scheduling issue. Rodrigues is returning simply six weeks after the Franco loss and accepted this specific reserving on brief discover, then travels to Shanghai to face an area fighter. That doesn’t determine the bout, nevertheless it strengthens the case for treating his plus-money value as a volatility play somewhat than assuming he arrives with a full camp tailor-made to Liu.
Liu Ce moneyline at -185 or higher is the cleanest choose. The quantity has already moved from the opening choose’em vary, so bettors ought to keep away from laying a a lot steeper value if it continues to rise. Liu has the bigger physique of placing work, a considerable bodily body and a matchup that ought to let him battle lengthy if he stays composed. Rodrigues by knockout is the underdog sprinkle for these fading Liu’s transition from elite kickboxing to MMA.
