The UFC has released updated rankings 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 surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa successfully debuted at light heavyweight by defeating No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa entered the light heavyweight rankings at No. 7, while Murzakanov dropped to No. 8. Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight, and Josh Emmett debuted at No. 5 in the heavyweight division.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, sees Paulo Costa make an immediate impact at light heavyweight, while several other fighters see notable movement across the rankings board.
Costa, 35, transitions from middleweight to light heavyweight after defeating No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov, earning a debut position of No. 7 in the 205-pound division. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha carries a 16-4-0 record and has long been one of the sport's most feared strikers, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa brings legitimate power to a new weight class.
The ripple effect of Costa's divisional move benefits Roman Dolidze at middleweight, where the Georgian now sits at No. 12 after surpassing Costa in the 185-pound rankings. Dolidze, 37, fights out of Xtreme Couture and holds a 15-5-0 record. The six-foot-two fighter with a 76-inch reach contributes a more well-rounded game, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside his striking output.
Aaron Pico, 29, also breaks into the top 15 at featherweight in this update. The Jackson-Wink MMA product carries a 14-5-0 record and stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach. Pico's most striking attribute is his takedown rate of 8.96 per 15 minutes, marking him as a formidable grappling threat at 145 pounds.
Why it matters
- Costa's arrival at No. 7 light heavyweight immediately places him within striking distance of the top five in a competitive division
- Dolidze moving ahead of Costa at middleweight reshuffles the contender picture at 185 pounds
- Pico entering the featherweight top 15 sets up potential ranked bouts for the 29-year-old American
- Arman Tsarukyan's two-spot rise in the pound-for-pound rankings further cements his standing among the sport's elite
