The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings following victories at wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze overtook Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after successfully debuting at light heavyweight with a win over sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa himself entered the light heavyweight rankings at number seven. Aaron Pico has entered the top 15 at featherweight, while Josh Hockett debuts at number five in the heavyweight rankings.
The UFC released its latest rankings update on April 14, with a handful of meaningful shifts across multiple divisions.
Arman Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings after recording victories at wrestling and grappling tournaments outside of competition, a rare acknowledgment of non-UFC performance in the rankings process.
At middleweight, Roman Dolidze moved ahead of Paulo Costa after a successful debut at light heavyweight, where the Georgian fighter picked up a win over sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Dolidze, now 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 per 15 minutes and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat in either division. He now sits at number 12 in the middleweight rankings.
Costa, 35, drops to number 13 at middleweight following the reshuffle but simultaneously enters the light heavyweight rankings at number seven. The Brazilian finisher carries a 16-4 record and remains one of the division's more dangerous strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Aaron Pico has broken into the featherweight top 15, adding the 29-year-old American to the ranked picture at 145 pounds. Fighting out of Jackson-Wink MMA, Pico holds a 14-5 record and posts a remarkable 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that stands out sharply in a division not typically associated with elite wrestling volume. Josh Hockett also debuts in the rankings, entering the heavyweight division at number five.
Why it matters
- Dolidze now holds ranked positions at both middleweight and light heavyweight, giving him leverage in either division
- Costa's simultaneous drop at middleweight and entry at light heavyweight signals a possible permanent move up in weight
- Pico's featherweight ranking entry opens the door to top-15 matchups for the Jackson-Wink product
