The UFC has updated its rankings across multiple divisions. Aaron Pico entered the featherweight top 15 at number 13, pushing Patricio Pitbull down to 15th. Josh Hawkett jumped to number five in the heavyweight division, with Curtis Blaydes dropping to sixth. Paulo Costa entered the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his victory. Azamat Murzakanov fell to eighth place in the light heavyweight division after his loss. The rankings reflect recent fight results and divisional movement.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, has brought several notable shifts across three divisions, with Aaron Pico making his entrance into the featherweight top 15 and heavyweight Josh Hawkett climbing to fifth place.
Pico, 29, checks in at number 13 in the featherweight division after transitioning to the UFC from Bellator. The Jackson-Wink MMA product carries a 14-5 record and brings an elite wrestling pedigree to the 145-pound weight class, averaging an exceptional 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. The American stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance.
His arrival pushes Patricio "Pitbull" Pitbull down to 15th in the division. The Brazilian veteran, now 38, holds a 37-9 record built largely during his dominant run at Bellator. Fighting out of the Pitbull Brothers camp, the five-foot-six orthodox striker averages 2.68 significant strikes per minute and supplements his stand-up game with 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Paulo Costa has entered the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following a recent victory. The Brazilian known as "The Eraser" carries a 16-4 record and brings serious offensive firepower to the 205-pound division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Costa, 35, stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. Azamat Murzakanov dropped to eighth in the same division following a loss.
Why it matters
- Pico's featherweight debut in the rankings signals a competitive new threat at 145 pounds, with his takedown volume standing out among divisional peers
- Pitbull's slide to 15th increases pressure on the legend to perform quickly if he wants to remain inside the top 15
- Costa's immediate entry at light heavyweight at number seven puts him within striking distance of the top five in a second division
