The UFC rankings have been updated with several significant movements. Aaron Pico entered the featherweight top 15 at number 13, while Patricio Pitbull dropped to 15th. In the heavyweight division, Josh Hockit moved up to fifth place, displacing Curtis Blaydes to sixth. Paulo Costa made his light heavyweight ranking debut at number seven after defeating Azamat Murzakanov, who fell to eighth place. These changes reflect recent fight results and divisional movement among ranked fighters.
The UFC updated its official rankings on April 14, 2026, producing notable shifts across three divisions as recent fight results rippled through the standings.
Aaron Pico cracked the featherweight top 15, debuting at number 13. The 29-year-old American, who trains out of Jackson-Wink MMA, carries a 14-5 record and brings an elite grappling threat to a loaded division, averaging nearly nine takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox fighter has been one of the sport's more dynamic young prospects and now earns his first ranked position. His arrival pushed Patricio "Pitbull" Pitbull down to 15th. The 38-year-old Brazilian veteran, fighting out of Pitbull Brothers, owns an impressive 37-9 record built over a lengthy career, but the rankings shuffle has moved him toward the edge of the top 15.
In the heavyweight division, Josh Hockit climbed to fifth place, nudging Curtis Blaydes down to sixth in the process.
Paulo Costa made the most dramatic leap, entering the light heavyweight top 10 at number seven following his victory over Azamat Murzakanov, who fell one spot to eighth as a result. Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is 35 years old and represents Brazil. He holds a 16-4 record and trains with Team Borracha. Though he built his reputation as a middleweight, where he still holds a ranking of 13th, his move into the light heavyweight division has now earned official recognition. Costa is a high-output striker, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Pico's featherweight entry signals the division's continued influx of versatile, wrestling-heavy talent
- Costa now holds rankings in two divisions simultaneously, a rare and significant development
- Hockit's rise to fifth in heavyweight puts him firmly in contention for a top-five opponent next
