The UFC has released updated rankings with several significant changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Paulo Costa has entered the light heavyweight rankings at number 7 after defeating sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov in his 205-pound debut, while simultaneously being passed by Roman Dolidze in the middleweight rankings. Aaron Pico has entered the top 15 at featherweight. Josh Emmett debuts directly at number 5 in the heavyweight rankings, an unusually high initial placement.
The UFC released its latest rankings update on April 14, with several notable shifts across multiple divisions, headlined by Paulo Costa's arrival in the light heavyweight top ten and Arman Tsarukyan's rise in the pound-for-pound standings.
Costa, 35, makes his 205-pound debut in the rankings at number seven after defeating sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov in his first fight at light heavyweight. The Brazilian, who competes out of Team Borracha, carries a 16-4 record and has built his reputation on elite striking volume, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that rank among the best in the sport. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa made the move to light heavyweight while simultaneously sliding down the middleweight rankings to number 13, where he was passed by Roman Dolidze.
Dolidze, now ranked 12th at middleweight, holds a 15-5 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture. The 37-year-old Georgian is a well-rounded threat, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a 3.19 significant strikes per minute output. At six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, he presents a physical challenge at 185 pounds.
Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments, further cementing his status as one of the sport's elite fighters outside of title competition.
Aaron Pico, 29, enters the featherweight top 15 for the first time. Fighting out of Jackson-Wink MMA, the American owns a 14-5 record and an eye-catching 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, combining elite wrestling with a 3.88 significant strikes per minute output. Josh Emmett also debuts in the rankings, entering the heavyweight top five directly at number five — an unusually high initial placement for any fighter.
Why it matters
- Costa's dual-division ranking shift could shape title picture conversations at both 185 and 205 pounds
- Dolidze moving ahead of Costa at middleweight tightens a crowded divisional landscape
- Pico's featherweight entry and Emmett's heavyweight debut at number five add fresh competitive pressure in both divisions
