The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments outside MMA. Roman Dolidze overtook Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after successfully debuting at light heavyweight with a win over #6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa himself entered the light heavyweight rankings at #7. Aaron Pico made his first appearance in the top 15 at featherweight, while Josh Hockit debuted at #5 in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released April 14, reshapes the pound-for-pound list and shakes up the middleweight and heavyweight divisions, with several fighters either moving up or making their first appearances in the top 15.
Arman Tsarukyan headlined the pound-for-pound movement, climbing two spots on the strength of victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments outside of MMA competition. The update reflects the organization's recognition of elite performance beyond the cage.
Roman Dolidze made the most dramatic move of the cycle, jumping ahead of Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings — where the Georgian sits at number 12 — after a successful debut at light heavyweight that included a victory over Azamat Murzakanov, who had been ranked sixth in that division. Dolidze, 37, carries a 15-5 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, he averages 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making his grappling the clear foundation of his game.
Costa, 35, simultaneously entered the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his own move up a weight class. The Brazilian holds a 16-4 record and remains one of the sport's most active strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy across his career at middleweight. His middleweight ranking has slipped to 13 as Dolidze moved past him.
At featherweight, Aaron Pico broke into the top 15 for the first time. The 29-year-old American out of Jackson-Wink carries a 14-5 record and a remarkable grappling pedigree, averaging 8.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. Josh Hockit also debuted in the rankings, entering the heavyweight top 15 at number five.
Why it matters
- Dolidze is now ranked in two divisions simultaneously, complicating matchmaking at both middleweight and light heavyweight
- Costa's dual-division positioning raises questions about where he competes next
- Pico's top-15 arrival at featherweight signals his emergence as a contender worth tracking
