UFC rankings have been updated with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze moved ahead of Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings, as Costa successfully debuted at light heavyweight by defeating the #6-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa now sits at #7 in the light heavyweight division. Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight, and Josh Hockit debuted at #5 in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, brings several significant shifts across multiple divisions, headlined by Paulo Costa's move to light heavyweight and Arman Tsarukyan climbing the pound-for-pound list.
Tsarukyan's rise comes off the back of victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments, which were enough to earn him a two-spot jump in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian known as "The Eraser," made a successful debut at light heavyweight, defeating the division's sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. The move lands him at number seven in the 205-pound standings. The Brazilian carries a 16-4 record and trains out of Team Borracha. One of the more prolific strikers in the sport, Costa lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His departure from middleweight has immediate consequences there — Roman Dolidze has passed him in the 185-pound rankings.
Dolidze, the 37-year-old Georgian out of Xtreme Couture, now sits at number 12 in the middleweight division while Costa drops to 13. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Dolidze brings a more well-rounded game, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside his striking.
Aaron Pico, the 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA, has broken into the top 15 at featherweight. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, Pico holds a 14-5 record and is a standout in the grappling department, averaging an eye-catching 8.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. Heavyweight Josh Hockit also debuted in the rankings, entering at number five in his division.
Why it matters
- Costa's light heavyweight debut at number seven immediately makes him a relevant name in a crowded 205-pound division
- Dolidze moving ahead of Costa at middleweight reshapes the contender picture at 185 pounds
- Pico's top-15 featherweight entry signals growing recognition for one of the division's more active grapplers
- Tsarukyan's pound-for-pound climb reflects performances outside the Octagon being factored into UFC assessments
