The UFC has released updated divisional and pound-for-pound rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the P4P rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Paulo Costa debuted at #7 in the light heavyweight rankings after defeating #6 Azamat Murzakanov, while Roman Dolidze jumped ahead of Costa in the middleweight rankings. Murzakanov dropped to #8 at light heavyweight following his loss. Aaron Pico entered the featherweight top 15, and Josh Emmett debuted at #5 in the heavyweight rankings immediately upon entry.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released April 14, brought a wave of divisional movement across several weight classes, headlined by Paulo Costa's arrival in the light heavyweight top 15 and Aaron Pico's debut in the featherweight rankings.
Costa, 35, earned the No. 7 spot at light heavyweight after defeating Azamat Murzakanov, who had been ranked sixth prior to the bout and slipped to No. 8 following the loss. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha carries a 16-4 record and competes primarily at middleweight, where he now sits at No. 13 after Roman Dolidze jumped ahead of him in that division. Known for his punishing output, Costa lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — among the higher marks in the sport — while attempting virtually no submissions and averaging just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Dolidze, ranked No. 12 at middleweight, represents a contrasting stylistic profile. The 37-year-old Georgian fighting out of Xtreme Couture holds a 15-5 record and blends striking with a grappling game that produces 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.7 submission attempts over the same window. At six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, he offers significant physical advantages in the division.
Pico, the 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA, made his featherweight top-15 debut on the strength of a 14-5 record. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, he averages nearly nine takedowns per 15 minutes — an exceptional rate that underscores his wrestling-heavy approach.
Why it matters
- Costa now holds rankings at two separate weight classes, adding intrigue to future matchmaking in both divisions
- Dolidze's leap past Costa tightens the middleweight picture heading toward the top ten
- Pico's featherweight entry at 145 opens new high-profile matchups for the wrestling-first contender
- Josh Emmett's immediate debut at No. 5 in heavyweight represents one of the more striking ranking placements in this cycle
