The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan rose two spots in the P4P rankings following victories at wrestling and grappling tournaments. Paulo Costa debuted at #7 in the light heavyweight rankings after defeating #6-ranked Azamat Murzakanov in his divisional debut, while Murzakanov dropped to #8. Roman Dolidze moved ahead of Costa in the middleweight rankings. Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight, and Josh Hockit debuted immediately at #5 in the heavyweight division.
Paulo Costa has made an immediate impact at light heavyweight, debuting at number seven in the UFC's updated divisional rankings released on April 14, following his win over Azamat Murzakanov, who held the number six spot heading into their bout.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 record and had competed exclusively at middleweight prior to this divisional move. The 35-year-old Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. He is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His jump to light heavyweight appears to have paid off immediately, while Murzakanov slid one spot to number eight as a result of the defeat.
Back at middleweight, Costa's ranking also shifted. Roman Dolidze moved ahead of him in the 185-pound division, pushing Costa down to thirteenth. Dolidze, a 37-year-old Georgian fighting out of Xtreme Couture, holds a 15-5-0 record and stands six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach — 193 centimeters. He averages 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and has shown a more well-rounded approach than his counterpart, posting 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Elsewhere in the updated rankings, Aaron Pico entered the featherweight top 15. The 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA is 14-5-0 and brings an extraordinary wrestling-based game, averaging 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. He stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach. Josh Hockit debuted at number five in the heavyweight division, and Arman Tsarukyan climbed two places in the pound-for-pound rankings on the strength of recent tournament victories.
Why it matters
- Costa now holds rankings in two divisions simultaneously, complicating his competitive path at both 185 and 205 pounds
- Murzakanov's drop to eighth keeps him within striking distance of the top five but adds urgency to his next outing
- Pico's featherweight entry signals the UFC's recognition of his recent form after his transition from Bellator
