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. 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. Josh Hewitt makes his ranking debut immediately at number five in the heavyweight division.
The UFC released its latest official rankings on April 14, and the update brings meaningful movement across several divisions, headlined by Arman Tsarukyan's rise in the pound-for-pound standings and a shake-up at middleweight.
Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings after picking up victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments outside of competition, a nod from the UFC to his continued development as an all-around fighter.
The middleweight division saw its own reshuffle. Roman Dolidze, 37, representing Georgia out of Xtreme Couture, moved past Paulo Costa in the 185-pound rankings and now sits at number 12. The shift comes on the back of Dolidze's successful debut at light heavyweight, where he defeated sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Dolidze averages 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a persistent threat on the mat. His record stands at 15 wins and 5 losses.
Costa, now ranked 13th at middleweight, also earned a new entry on the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his own move up to 205 pounds. The Brazilian, fighting out of Team Borracha, is 35 years old and carries a 16-4-0 record. He remains one of the more prolific strikers in the middleweight division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
At featherweight, Aaron Pico has broken into the top 15. The 29-year-old American, training at Jackson-Wink MMA, holds a 14-5-0 record and stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach. His extraordinary takedown rate of 8.96 per 15 minutes marks him as a serious wrestling-based threat in the division.
Why it matters
- Dolidze now ranks ahead of Costa at middleweight despite competing at light heavyweight, complicating the picture at 185 pounds for both men
- Costa's simultaneous entry into the light heavyweight top ten adds a notable name to a crowded division
- Pico's top-15 debut at featherweight signals growing UFC recognition of his recent performances
- Josh Hewitt enters the heavyweight rankings immediately at number five, injecting fresh competition near the top of a division always hungry for contenders
