The UFC rankings have been officially updated with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze overtook Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa's successful light heavyweight debut. Costa defeated the #6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov and entered the light heavyweight rankings at #7, while Murzakanov remained in the division. Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight, and Josh Hockit debuted at #5 in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC's latest official rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, brings several meaningful shifts across multiple divisions, headlined by Arman Tsarukyan climbing two spots in the pound-for-pound standings and Paulo Costa making an immediate impact at light heavyweight.
Tsarukyan's rise in the pound-for-pound rankings came on the back of victories in wrestling and grappling competitions outside the Octagon, a recognition of his activity and dominance on the mats.
Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian striker out of Team Borracha, made his light heavyweight debut count, defeating ranked contender Azamat Murzakanov to land immediately at number seven in the 205-pound division. The six-foot-one, 185-centimeter knockout artist carries a 16-4 record and one of the most aggressive outputs in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. The move cost him ground at middleweight, where Roman Dolidze overtook him in the rankings. Costa now sits at number 13 in the middleweight division.
Dolidze, the 37-year-old Georgian fighting out of Xtreme Couture, climbed to number 12 at middleweight following Costa's divisional shift. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Dolidze holds a 15-5 record and contributes across all phases, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 3.19 significant strikes per minute.
Aaron Pico, the 29-year-old American from Jackson-Wink MMA, entered the featherweight top 15 with a 14-5 record. The five-foot-eight fighter is a relentless wrestler, averaging a remarkable 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Josh Hockit also debuted in the heavyweight rankings, coming in at number five.
Why it matters
- Costa's jump to light heavyweight reshapes both the 205-pound contender picture and the middleweight top 15 simultaneously
- Dolidze's climb at middleweight keeps him in striking distance of the upper tier at 185 pounds
- Pico's top-15 entry at featherweight signals his emergence as a legitimate divisional threat after years as a prospect
