The UFC has updated its official rankings with several notable movements across divisions. Arman Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, reportedly due to victories at wrestling and grappling tournaments outside of MMA. Roman Dolidze has overtaken Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings, as Costa successfully debuted at light heavyweight by defeating the No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa has entered the light heavyweight rankings at No. 7 following his divisional move. Aaron Pico has been added to the featherweight top 15, while Josh Howitt debuts in the heavyweight rankings immediately at No. 5. The post emphasizes these as the most interesting changes from the latest rankings update.
The UFC's latest official rankings update, released on April 14, has produced a handful of eye-catching movements, headlined by Paulo Costa's entry into the light heavyweight top ten and Arman Tsarukyan's climb up the pound-for-pound list.
Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, with the UFC crediting victories in wrestling and grappling competitions outside of MMA as the catalyst for the adjustment.
Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian striker out of Team Borracha, made his long-anticipated move to light heavyweight official in the most emphatic way possible, defeating No. 6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov in his debut at 205 pounds. The win earned him an immediate No. 7 ranking in the division. A middleweight at 185 centimeters and a 183-centimeter reach, Costa carries one of the most punishing output rates in MMA, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His departure has reshuffled the middleweight picture, with Roman Dolidze now slipping past him in that division. The Georgian veteran, ranked No. 12 at middleweight, carries a 15-5 record, fights out of Xtreme Couture, and brings a six-foot-two frame with a 193-centimeter reach to go along with 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Aaron Pico, the 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA, earned his first appearance in the featherweight top 15. The five-foot-eight fighter holds a 14-5 record and produces a remarkable 8.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. Josh Howitt also debuted in the heavyweight rankings, entering directly at No. 5.
Why it matters
- Costa's immediate No. 7 ranking at light heavyweight puts him close to title contention in a new division after years at middleweight
- Dolidze's move past Costa reshapes the logjam in the middleweight top 15
- Pico's featherweight ranking arrival and Howitt's top-five heavyweight debut signal fresh contender pools in both divisions
- Tsarukyan's pound-for-pound rise, driven by out-of-competition grappling results, sets a notable precedent for how the UFC weights those achievements
