His striking career included provincial Sanda titles, a national championship medal, a K-1 Openweight Grand Prix victory and the K-1 cruiserweight championship.

Then Liu began testing that striking background under MMA rules.

So far, every one of his professional MMA victories has ended by knockout or TKO.

Who Is Liu Ce Fighter Information

Who Is Liu Ce?

Liu Ce is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist, Sanda practitioner and kickboxer.

He competes at light heavyweight in MMA and built most of his reputation before entering the sport.

Rather than coming through wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Liu developed through striking.

His background combines Sanda and kickboxing, while his professional kickboxing career established him internationally before he began accumulating MMA experience.

Where Is Liu Ce From?

Liu was born in Fushun, Liaoning, China.

His career later became closely associated with Tangshan, where he has trained and competed.

Liaoning also played an important role in his development because Liu became a multiple-time provincial Sanda champion there before reaching the international kickboxing stage.

What Is Liu Ce’s Martial Arts Background?

Sanda is the foundation of Liu Ce’s fighting style.

Before becoming a professional kickboxer, he spent years competing in Chinese Sanda tournaments.

That background gave him experience with punches, kicks and the physical demands of full-contact competition.

Later, Liu moved deeper into professional kickboxing, where his size and knockout power became increasingly important.

Was Liu Ce a Sanda Champion?

Yes.

Liu won the Liaoning Provincial Sanda Championship four times at 90 kilograms.

His provincial titles came in:

• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016

He also earned silver at the 2016 National Wushu Sanda Championship in the 100-kilogram division.

A year later, Liu placed fifth at the national championships.

Therefore, his striking résumé was already substantial before his professional kickboxing career reached its peak.

When Did Liu Ce Become a Professional Kickboxer?

Liu began focusing on professional kickboxing full time in 2018.

His first major results were not immediately successful.

He lost decisions to Marino Schouten and Mikita Shostak that year.

However, those early defeats did not define his career.

Over the following years, Liu developed into a much more dangerous heavyweight and cruiserweight striker.

Eventually, he started producing the knockout run that brought him international recognition.

Why Is Liu Ce Known for Knockout Power?

His results explain most of it.

Liu’s professional kickboxing record includes 14 knockout victories, while all three of his professional MMA wins have also ended by knockout or TKO.

Moreover, his finishes have come through several different weapons.

Liu has stopped opponents with:

• Right hooks
• Straight punches
• Knees
• Head kicks
• Low kicks
• Punch combinations

As a result, opponents cannot simply prepare for one power punch.

His kicking game is equally dangerous.

What Happened at the 2023 K-1 Openweight Grand Prix?

The 2023 K-1 Openweight Grand Prix became one of the defining performances of Liu Ce’s career.

The tournament celebrated K-1’s 30th anniversary and required Liu to win three fights in one event.

First, he knocked out Valentin Bordianu with a right hook.

Next, Liu stopped GLORY veteran Ariel Machado after damaging him with low kicks.

Then he faced Claudiu Istrate in the final.

Liu finished the tournament with another first-round knockout, this time using a low kick.

Three fights produced three stoppages.

By the end of the night, Liu Ce had won the K-1 30th Anniversary Openweight Tournament.

Why Was Liu Ce’s K-1 Tournament Win Important?

The tournament showed that Liu’s power could translate against international heavyweight opposition.

Winning one fight is different from navigating a one-night tournament.

Liu had to recover between rounds of the bracket, adjust to different opponents and continue producing under pressure.

He did not simply survive the format.

He stopped all three opponents.

That performance significantly raised his profile outside China.

Was Liu Ce a K-1 Champion?

Yes.

After winning the openweight tournament, Liu continued competing successfully in K-1.

He eventually faced Sina Karimian for the K-1 cruiserweight championship.

Liu stopped Karimian with a right hook in the third round and became the K-1 Cruiserweight Champion.

He later successfully defended the championship against Mahmoud Sattari by majority decision.

Did Liu Ce Win Other Kickboxing Titles?

Yes.

Liu also became the ISKA K-1 Intercontinental Super Cruiserweight Champion.

He won that title against Sebastian Lutaniuc.

Liu scored multiple knockdowns before earning a first-round TKO.

Together with his K-1 achievements, the victory helped establish him as more than a domestic Chinese kickboxer.

He had become a proven championship-level international striker.

Was Liu Ce Named K-1 Fighter of the Year?

Yes.

Liu was recognized as the 2024 K-1 Fighter of the Year.

The honor followed the period in which he became cruiserweight champion and continued building on the momentum created by his openweight tournament victory.

It marked another major accomplishment in the kickboxing side of his career.

Why Did Liu Ce Move Into MMA?

The supplied material does not clearly establish one specific reason Liu decided to pursue MMA.

However, his career shows that he began competing under MMA rules after already developing extensive experience in Sanda and kickboxing.

That makes his transition unusual.

Many fighters build MMA experience first and later experiment with kickboxing.

Liu largely followed the opposite path.

He entered MMA with years of high-level striking already established.

When Did Liu Ce Make His MMA Debut?

Liu made his professional MMA debut in 2023.

He faced Yu Haiming at WLF W.A.R.S. 64.

The fight did not last long.

Liu finished the bout in the first round with a punch and head kick.

That result immediately showed how dangerous his established striking could become with smaller MMA gloves.

Has Liu Ce Won Every MMA Fight by Knockout?

Every professional MMA win on his record has come by knockout or TKO.

His first victory ended with a punch and head kick.

Next, he stopped Batjargal Munkh-Erdene with punches.

Later, Liu defeated Igor Barabanov through leg kicks and punches.

Therefore, he has yet to need the judges to earn a professional MMA victory.

Has Liu Ce Lost in MMA?

Yes.

Liu has one professional MMA defeat.

Ivan Gnizditskiy stopped him with punches in the second round of their fight.

The loss gave Liu an early reminder that success in elite kickboxing does not automatically make the transition into MMA simple.

Different gloves, takedown threats, cage positioning and grappling can fundamentally change striking exchanges.

What Is Liu Ce’s Fighting Style?

Liu is an orthodox Sanda and kickboxing-based striker.

His height and reach allow him to operate effectively from range.

However, he is not simply a long-distance point fighter.

Liu looks for damage.

His professional results show heavy use of right-hand attacks, powerful low kicks and explosive combinations.

Furthermore, he has enough variety to attack the legs, body and head.

That makes his striking difficult to reduce to a single signature technique.

How Dangerous Are Liu Ce’s Low Kicks?

Very dangerous.

Low kicks have been responsible for several important moments in his kickboxing career.

During the K-1 Openweight Grand Prix, Liu used them to stop Ariel Machado and then finished tournament finalist Claudiu Istrate with another low kick.

He also used leg kicks during his MMA victory over Igor Barabanov.

Therefore, his low kicks are not simply scoring techniques.

They have repeatedly ended fights.

Why Does Liu Ce’s Size Matter?

Liu is unusually tall for an MMA light heavyweight.

Most major sources list him around 6’5″, with a reach of approximately 77.5 to 78 inches.

That frame gives him the ability to strike from distance while still carrying significant power.

However, his career has not been limited to one weight class.

His combat-sports background includes competition around cruiserweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight ranges.

That experience fighting larger opponents helped prepare him for openweight kickboxing as well.

Is There a Disagreement About Liu Ce’s Height?

Yes.

The supplied sources do not completely agree.

Tapology lists Liu at 6’3″ (191 cm).

However, ESPN, Sherdog and the supplied biographical information list him at approximately 6’5″ (196 cm).

Because multiple sources support the taller measurement, this profile uses 6’5″, while noting that a conflicting listing exists.

Who Is Liu Ce’s Coach?

Liu Ce’s supplied biographical information lists Wei Rui as his trainer.

Liu is also associated with Tangshan Buntai Riding Fight Club and CFP.

Those connections reflect the Chinese striking environment in which he developed before expanding further into professional MMA.

Why Is Liu Ce Called “The Oriental Dragon”?

Liu competes under the nickname “The Oriental Dragon.”

The nickname fits both his Chinese background and the striking reputation he built through K-1, Wu Lin Feng and Sanda.

Unlike some fighters whose nicknames become better known than their real names, Liu is still relatively new to a large portion of the international MMA audience.

Therefore, “The Oriental Dragon” remains closely connected to his combat-sports career rather than a separate public persona.

What Makes Liu Ce Different?

Liu Ce is not a typical MMA prospect.

By the time he began building his MMA record, he had already spent years fighting under different striking rules.

He had won provincial Sanda championships.

Then he became a national Sanda medalist.

Professional kickboxing followed.

Eventually, Liu entered one of K-1’s most demanding tournament formats and knocked out three opponents in a single night.

After that, he became a K-1 champion.

Only then did MMA become another major chapter in his career.

That background makes Liu especially interesting because his MMA record is still small while his overall combat-sports experience is anything but.

He may only have a handful of professional MMA fights, but “The Oriental Dragon” entered the sport with the striking résumé of an established world-level kickboxer.

Liu Ce FAQ

Who is Liu Ce?

Liu Ce is a Chinese professional MMA fighter, Sanda practitioner and former K-1 cruiserweight champion.

How is Liu Ce’s name written in Chinese?

His name is written 刘策.

What is Liu Ce’s nickname?

His nickname is “The Oriental Dragon.”

When was Liu Ce born?

Liu Ce was born on September 4, 1996.

Where was Liu Ce born?

He was born in Fushun, Liaoning, China.

What nationality is Liu Ce?

He is Chinese.

What is Liu Ce’s heritage?

His specific heritage is not publicly stated in the supplied material.

How tall is Liu Ce?

Most supplied sources list Liu at approximately 6’5″ (196 cm), although Tapology lists him at 6’3″.

What is Liu Ce’s reach?

His reach is listed at approximately 77.5 to 78 inches (197 cm).

What weight class does Liu Ce fight in?

In MMA, Liu competes at light heavyweight.

What is Liu Ce’s MMA record?

His professional MMA record is 3-1-0.

Has Liu Ce won every MMA fight by knockout?

Yes. All three of his professional MMA victories have come by knockout or TKO.

What is Liu Ce’s fighting style?

His primary background is Sanda and kickboxing.

What stance does Liu Ce use?

He fights from an orthodox stance.

Was Liu Ce a Sanda champion?

Yes. Liu won the Liaoning Provincial Sanda Championship four consecutive times from 2013 through 2016.

Did Liu Ce compete nationally in Sanda?

Yes. He earned silver at the 2016 National Wushu Sanda Championship and placed fifth in 2017.

Was Liu Ce a K-1 champion?

Yes. He became the K-1 Cruiserweight Champion.

Did Liu Ce win the K-1 Openweight Grand Prix?

Yes. Liu won the 2023 K-1 30th Anniversary Openweight Tournament.

How many fights did Liu Ce win during that K-1 tournament?

He won three fights in the tournament, stopping all three opponents.

Did Liu Ce win an ISKA championship?

Yes. Liu won the ISKA K-1 Intercontinental Super Cruiserweight Championship.

Was Liu Ce K-1 Fighter of the Year?

Yes. He was named 2024 K-1 Fighter of the Year.

When did Liu Ce begin professional MMA?

He made his professional MMA debut in 2023.

Where does Liu Ce train?

He is associated with Tangshan Buntai Riding Fight Club / CFP.

Who is Liu Ce’s coach?

His supplied biographical information lists Wei Rui as his trainer.

Is Liu Ce married?

His marital status is not publicly stated in the supplied material.

Does Liu Ce have children?

Children are not publicly stated in the supplied material.

What religion is Liu Ce?

His religion is not publicly stated in the supplied material.

What is Liu Ce’s Instagram?

An official Instagram account was not provided or clearly established in the supplied material.