The UFC has released updated divisional rankings with several movements. Aaron Pico entered the featherweight top 15 at #13, while Patricio Pitbull dropped to #15. Josh Hockit jumped straight to #5 in the heavyweight rankings, pushing Curtis Blaydes down to #6. Paulo Costa entered the light heavyweight top 10 at #7 following his victory, while Azamat Murzakanov fell to #8. These changes reflect recent fight results and divisional shifts across multiple weight classes.
The UFC's latest divisional rankings update, released April 14, reshapes the featherweight and heavyweight landscapes while also registering movement at light heavyweight.
Aaron Pico makes his debut in the featherweight top 15, entering at number 13 following recent results. The 29-year-old American, out of Jackson-Wink MMA, carries a 14-5 record and brings a notably active wrestling game to the division, averaging an impressive 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox striker lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute with 44 percent accuracy. His entry comes at the expense of Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, who drops to number 15. The Brazilian veteran, now 38, holds a career record of 37-9 and brings considerable experience to the featherweight ranks, averaging 2.68 significant strikes per minute with a takedown and submission threat to complement his striking.
At heavyweight, Josh Hockit jumps directly into the number five position, pushing Curtis Blaydes down one spot to number six. At light heavyweight, Paulo Costa moves into the top ten at number seven following his recent victory, displacing Azamat Murzakanov to number eight. Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian known as "The Eraser," holds a 16-4 record and operates out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. He lands a high volume of 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the more prolific strikers in any division.
Why it matters
- Pico's entry at featherweight number 13 sets up potential ranked bouts for a young contender still building his UFC profile
- Pitbull's slide to number 15 puts the decorated veteran on notice in a crowded featherweight division
- Costa's top-ten ranking at light heavyweight immediately positions him as a credible contender in a division he has recently moved into
- Hockit's jump to number five at heavyweight bypasses several established contenders, signaling the UFC views his recent performance as title-picture relevant
