Former kickboxing ace Liu Ce was clearly the better striker in his debut fight against Levi Rodrigues Jr. at UFC Fight Night 286 in Shanghai, but still found himself in a hard-hitting war before landing a thunderous knockout blow.

Round One

Calf kick lands for Liu. He lands it again and then goes for a one-two, but Rodrigues Jr is throwing back in return.

Lunging right hand from Liu. Body punch for him. Right hand for Rodrigues Jr. Body kick from Liu. Punches off the guard from Rodrigues Jr.

Spinning body kick lands for Liu. A couple of punches from Rodrigues Jr knocks Liu back on his heels for a moment. Rodrigues Jr tries to follow up but gets a bit wild and doesn’t connect.

Solid body kick for Liu, but Rodrigues Jr then clinches up and presses him into the cage.

Right hand in close from Rodrigues Jr. Rodrigues Jr trying to work for a takedown, but is unable to and backs away.

Back to stiking range. Short hooks from Rodrigues Jr. Hard low kick from Liu. Liu looks for more strikes. Rodrigues Jr still letting his hands go.

Hard right hand from Liu drops Rodrigues Jr, but he gets back to his feet. He looks wobbly though as he tries to launch some wild punches.

Two crisp jabs from Liu and then a right hand. He backs Rodrigues Jr up to the cage and tees off on him, but Rodrigues Jr absorbs the damage and lands a punch.

They peel away from the cage. Rodrigues Jr still unsteady but not quitting as he continues trying to slug it out.

Rodrigues Jr blasts Liu with a big punch. Liu isn’t going to be denied and so he matches his opponent’s aggression, but with better technique, landing a flush right hook that whips Rodrigues Jr’s head to the side as he then collapses face-first onto the canvas for a stunning knockout finish at 4:26mins of the first round.