The latest UFC rankings update shows multiple significant movements across divisions. Aaron Pico has entered the featherweight top 15 at number 13, pushing Patricio Pitbull down to 15th. In the heavyweight division, Josh Hokit climbed to fifth place, dropping Curtis Blaydes to sixth. Paulo Costa made his debut in the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his victory, while Azamat Murzakanov fell to eighth place. These changes reflect recent fight results and divisional shifts.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, reshapes the featherweight and light heavyweight divisions while also bringing movement in the heavyweight picture.
Aaron Pico has cracked the featherweight top 15 for the first time, landing at number 13. The 29-year-old American, who trains out of Jackson-Wink MMA, carries a 14-5 record and brings an elite wrestling-heavy approach to the division, averaging an eye-catching 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, Pico has developed into a genuine contender at 145 pounds.
His entry nudges Patricio "Pitbull" Pitbull down the rankings. The 38-year-old Brazilian veteran, who competes out of the Pitbull Brothers camp, holds a storied 37-9 record and brings considerable experience to the division, averaging 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a measured 2.68 significant strikes landed per minute.
Paulo Costa makes his light heavyweight debut in the rankings at number seven. "The Eraser," a 35-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Team Borracha, owns a 16-4 record and has long been one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His move up from middleweight immediately places him among the division's elite. Azamat Murzakanov drops one spot to eighth as a result of Costa's entry.
In the heavyweight division, Josh Hokit climbs to fifth, pushing Curtis Blaydes down to sixth.
Why it matters
- Pico's entry into the featherweight top 15 signals a rising contender with elite grappling credentials
- Costa at number seven in light heavyweight adds a high-volume striker to an already competitive 205-pound landscape
- Blaydes and Pitbull both slip despite no losses, purely due to others rising around them
- The heavyweight shake-up continues a run of movement at the top of that division
