Paulo Costa has entered the UFC light heavyweight rankings at No. 7 following his victory over No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov, who dropped to No. 8. Arman Tsarukyan rose two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings after successful performances in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze moved ahead of Costa in the middleweight rankings. Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight, and Josh Hockit debuted at No. 5 in the heavyweight rankings. The updates reflect significant movement across multiple weight classes.
Paulo Costa has cracked the UFC light heavyweight top ten, debuting at No. 7 in the 205-pound rankings following his victory over Azamat Murzakanov, while several other fighters saw notable movement across multiple divisions in the latest ranking update released April 14.
Costa, 35, is primarily known as a middleweight contender out of Brazil, where he holds a 16-4-0 record fighting out of Team Borracha. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox striker has long been one of the most aggressive offensive fighters in the sport, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His win over the previously sixth-ranked Murzakanov earned him immediate recognition at light heavyweight, with Murzakanov sliding two spots to No. 8 as a result.
At middleweight, Roman Dolidze moved ahead of Costa in that division's rankings, now sitting at No. 12 compared to Costa's No. 13. The 37-year-old Georgian, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 15-5-0 record and offers a contrasting style — a well-rounded game built around 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, backed by a 76-inch reach at six-foot-two.
At featherweight, Aaron Pico broke into the top 15. The 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA owns a 14-5-0 record and is a standout on the mat, averaging a remarkable 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, Pico adds 3.88 significant strikes per minute on the feet.
Why it matters
- Costa now holds rankings in two divisions simultaneously, adding leverage in potential matchmaking at 205 pounds
- Dolidze's rise at middleweight pushes Costa further down the divisional ladder despite his cross-divisional success
- Pico's top-15 entry at featherweight signals rising recognition for one of the division's more decorated wrestlers
- Arman Tsarukyan also climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, reflecting growing recognition of his all-around game
