The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa successfully debuted at light heavyweight, defeating the number six ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa now sits at number seven in the light heavyweight rankings. Aaron Pico entered the top fifteen at featherweight, while Josh Hockett debuted at number five in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, reshuffles several divisions, headlined by Arman Tsarukyan climbing two places in the pound-for-pound standings on the back of recent victories in wrestling and grappling competition.
Roman Dolidze, the 37-year-old Georgian middleweight out of Xtreme Couture, has moved past Paulo Costa to sit at number 12 in the 185-pound division. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Dolidze carries a 15-5 record and brings a well-rounded game to the cage, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 3.19 significant strikes landed per minute.
The move comes as Costa makes his transition to light heavyweight, where he has already made an immediate impact. The 35-year-old Brazilian, fighting out of Team Borracha, improved to 16-4 and now sits at number seven in the 205-pound division after defeating number-six-ranked Azamat Murzakanov in his debut at the weight class. Costa remains one of the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Aaron Pico, the 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA, has broken into the top fifteen at featherweight. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, Pico holds a 14-5 record and is a relentless takedown threat, averaging an eye-catching 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's pound-for-pound rise signals growing recognition of his dominance beyond the UFC octagon.
- Costa's jump to light heavyweight and instant top-ten entry reshapes the 205-pound contender picture.
- Dolidze moving past Costa at middleweight adds clarity to a crowded division with title implications further up the rankings.
- Pico's featherweight debut in the rankings gives the division a fresh contender with elite wrestling credentials.
