The UFC has updated its official rankings with several movements across divisions. Aaron Pico entered the featherweight rankings at number 13, while Patricio Pitbull dropped to 15th. Josh Hawkett rose to fifth place in the heavyweight division, pushing Curtis Blaydes down to sixth. Paulo Costa joined the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his move up from middleweight. Azamat Murzakanov fell one spot to eighth in the light heavyweight division.
The UFC's latest official rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, brought notable movement across three divisions, with Aaron Pico entering the featherweight top 15 and Josh Hawkett climbing to fifth in the heavyweight rankings.
Pico, 29, makes his featherweight rankings debut at number 13. The American fighter out of Jackson-Wink MMA carries a 14-5 record and brings an exceptionally active grappling game to the division, averaging nearly nine takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox striker also lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute. His arrival pushed Patricio "Pitbull" Ferreira down to 15th in the division. The 38-year-old Brazilian veteran, representing Pitbull Brothers, holds an impressive 37-9 record and brings well-rounded skills, including 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside his striking output.
In the heavyweight division, Josh Hawkett's rise to fifth pushed Curtis Blaydes down one position to sixth. Neither fighter's verified data was available in the rankings update beyond their new placements.
The light heavyweight division saw two changes. Paulo Costa, known as "The Eraser," entered the 205-pound rankings at number seven following his move up from middleweight. The 35-year-old Brazilian from Team Borracha carries a 16-4 record and is one of the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His arrival at light heavyweight adds a genuine offensive threat to an already competitive division. Azamat Murzakanov, meanwhile, slipped one spot to eighth as a result of the reshuffling.
Why it matters
- Pico's featherweight ranking entry signals the UFC's recognition of his divisional progress at just 29 years old
- Costa's 6.26 significant strikes per minute makes him an immediate stylistic threat at light heavyweight
- Blaydes dropping to sixth in heavyweight reflects the continued influx of new contenders pressing the division's established names
