The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories at freestyle wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze overtook Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa successfully debuted at light heavyweight by defeating the No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa entered the light heavyweight rankings at No. 7, while Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight and Josh Emmett debuted at No. 5 in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC's latest ranking update, released April 14, reshapes several divisions at once, with Arman Tsarukyan, Paulo Costa, Aaron Pico, and Josh Emmett among those seeing their positions shift.
Tsarukyan earned a two-spot rise in the pound-for-pound rankings on the strength of victories at freestyle wrestling and grappling tournaments, a reminder of his well-rounded skill set beyond the Octagon.
Costa, 35, is at the center of the most significant divisional development. The Brazilian standout, known as "The Eraser," moved up from middleweight to light heavyweight and made an immediate statement by defeating No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. The win earned Costa a debut ranking of No. 7 at 205 pounds. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa carries a 16-4-0 record and one of the most prolific output rates in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His departure leaves an opening at middleweight, where Roman Dolidze has climbed past him to No. 12 in the division.
Dolidze, the 37-year-old Georgian fighting out of Xtreme Couture, improves to No. 12 in a middleweight division he continues to rise through. The six-foot-two Dolidze, carrying a 76-inch reach and a 15-5-0 record, blends respectable grappling volume — 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes — with submission threat and a physical frame that suits the division's upper tier.
Aaron Pico enters the featherweight top 15 at 29 years old. The Jackson-Wink product holds a 14-5-0 record and posts a remarkable 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more dangerous wrestlers in the division's rankings.
Why it matters
- Costa's move to light heavyweight reshapes both the 205-pound and middleweight top 15 simultaneously
- Dolidze's climb at middleweight signals continued upward momentum for a fighter who is now a legitimate top-15 presence
- Pico's featherweight entry and Emmett's heavyweight debut at No. 5 add fresh competitive depth to two already contested divisions
