Liu Ce made an announcement in his UFC debut, surviving a wild firefight with Levi Rodrigues Jr. earlier than blasting him with a fight-ending proper hand late within the opening spherical.
The Chinese language mild heavyweight entered UFC Shanghai with simply 4 skilled fights underneath his belt, however confirmed no hesitation in opposition to Rodrigues Jr. from the opening bell. The Brazilian was additionally trying to bounce again after struggling a defeat in his UFC debut.
Liu Ce Survives Wild Exchanges Earlier than Folding Levi Rodrigues Jr. At UFC Shanghai
Each mild heavyweights instantly traded at a blistering tempo, with Liu Ce mixing in sharp calf and physique kicks whereas Rodrigues Jr. fired again with heavy punches. Rodrigues finally caught considered one of Ce’s kicks and tried to drive him in opposition to the fence, however Ce confirmed stable takedown protection earlier than reversing place.
The battle then erupted. Ce dropped Rodrigues Jr. with a clear shot, and though the Brazilian scrambled again to his ft, he appeared visibly harm. Ce continued urgent ahead, touchdown one other damaging mixture earlier than trapping Rodrigues in opposition to the fence and unloading punches and knees within the clinch.
Someway, Rodrigues survived the onslaught and made it again to open house, however Ce wasn’t completed. The pair continued buying and selling till Ce linked with a thudding proper hand that despatched Rodrigues Jr. face-first to the canvas, forcing the referee to intervene at 4:26 of Spherical 1 at UFC Shanghai.
The spectacular victory provides Ce a profitable UFC debut and improves his skilled document to 4-1, whereas Rodrigues Jr. falls to 5-2 professionally and 0-2 contained in the Octagon.
