The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable movements across divisions. Arman Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, attributed to his victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments outside the UFC. Roman Dolidze surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa's successful light heavyweight debut against sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa now occupies the seventh position in the light heavyweight rankings. Aaron Pico has entered the top 15 of the featherweight division, while Josh Howitt debuts immediately at fifth in the heavyweight rankings. These changes reflect both in-cage performances and activities outside traditional UFC competition.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released on April 14, 2026, reshuffles several divisions following a mix of in-cage results and notable activity outside the Octagon.
Arman Tsarukyan is among the biggest movers, climbing two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings after victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments held outside the UFC. The promotion credited those achievements as a factor in his upward movement, an increasingly notable acknowledgment of competition beyond traditional UFC bouts.
At middleweight, Roman Dolidze has surpassed Paulo Costa in the rankings. Dolidze, a 37-year-old Georgian fighter out of Xtreme Couture, now sits at number 12 in the division with a record of 15-5. 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 consistent grappling threat.
Costa, meanwhile, has made the jump to light heavyweight, where he now holds the seventh-ranked spot following a successful debut against sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. The 35-year-old Brazilian carries a 16-4 record and remains one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His middleweight ranking has dropped to 13th as a result of the move.
Aaron Pico, the 29-year-old American out of Jackson-Wink MMA, has entered the featherweight top 15 for the first time. Pico holds a 14-5 record and is a remarkable force on the mat, averaging 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Josh Howitt also makes an immediate impact, debuting at fifth in the heavyweight rankings.
Why it matters
- Costa's divisional switch reshuffles both the middleweight and light heavyweight top ten
- Dolidze's climb to 12th at middleweight intensifies the logjam behind the title picture
- Pico's featherweight top-15 entry opens the door to ranked competition for the former Bellator standout
- Howitt's straight-to-fifth heavyweight debut signals the UFC views him as an immediate contender
