The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following his success in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa successfully moved up to light heavyweight and defeated No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa debuted at No. 7 in the light heavyweight division while Murzakanov dropped one spot. Aaron Pico entered the featherweight top 15, and Josh Emmett debuted at No. 5 in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, brings meaningful movement across several divisions, headlined by Arman Tsarukyan climbing two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings on the back of recent success in wrestling and grappling competition.
Paulo Costa's move up to light heavyweight has triggered a ripple effect at middleweight. The Brazilian, known as "The Eraser," carries a 16-4 record and had been one of the division's most dangerous strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — among the highest in the sport. Now 35 and training out of Team Borracha, Costa stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. He defeated No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov to debut at No. 7 in the light heavyweight division, while Murzakanov dropped one spot as a result.
Costa's departure from the middleweight rankings opened the door for Roman Dolidze to move ahead of him in that division. The Georgian fighter, now ranked 12th at middleweight, holds a 15-5 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture. At 37, Dolidze stands six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach and mixes his striking with a solid grappling game, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Aaron Pico has cracked the featherweight top 15 at 29 years old. The Jackson-Wink product carries a 14-5 record and is one of the division's most active wrestlers, averaging an eye-catching 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Josh Emmett also debuted in the heavyweight rankings, entering at No. 5.
Why it matters
- Costa's divisional move reshapes the light heavyweight top ten and removes a veteran presence from middleweight
- Dolidze's rise at middleweight pushes him closer to contention in a competitive 185-pound landscape
- Pico's top-15 entry at featherweight signals growing recognition for one of the division's busiest takedown artists
- Tsarukyan's pound-for-pound climb reflects his activity beyond the cage in wrestling and grappling circuits
