The UFC has released updated rankings with several changes across multiple divisions. Aaron Pico has entered the featherweight rankings at number 13, pushing Patricio Pitbull down to 15th. In the heavyweight division, Josh Emmett moved up to fifth place, with Curtis Blaydes dropping to sixth. Paulo Costa has entered the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his recent victory, while Azamat Murzakanov fell to eighth place in that division. These changes reflect recent fight results and divisional shifts.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, has brought notable movement across the featherweight, heavyweight, and light heavyweight divisions, with several fighters changing positions following recent results.
At featherweight, Aaron Pico has broken into the top 15, entering the rankings at number 13. The 29-year-old American, who trains out of Jackson-Wink MMA, carries a 14-5 record and brings an aggressive wrestling-heavy style to a loaded division, averaging nearly nine takedowns per 15 minutes. His arrival pushes veteran Patricio "Pitbull" Freire down to 15th. The Brazilian, now 38 years old and competing under the Pitbull Brothers banner, holds a storied 37-9 record accumulated across a long career at the top of combat sports.
In the heavyweight division, Josh Emmett has climbed to fifth place, with Curtis Blaydes sliding one spot to sixth.
The light heavyweight rankings also saw movement, as Paulo Costa enters at number seven following a recent victory. The Brazilian known as "The Eraser" fights out of Team Borracha and owns a 16-4 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His move into the 205-pound top ten comes as Azamat Murzakanov drops one position to eighth.
Why it matters
- Pico's top-15 featherweight entry signals the UFC's recognition of his momentum and sets up potential ranked matchups for the former Bellator prospect
- Costa's arrival at light heavyweight at number seven immediately places him in contention for a high-profile bout in a division he has recently shifted into
- Emmett's rise to fifth at heavyweight keeps him firmly in the mix for a top-five showdown with any of the division's elite
