The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes across divisions. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, reportedly due to victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments outside of MMA. Roman Dolidze surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings following Dolidze's successful light heavyweight debut with a victory 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 Hokit debuts directly at number five in the heavyweight division.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released April 14, brings meaningful movement across several divisions, headlined by Arman Tsarukyan's climb up the pound-for-pound list and a pair of significant shifts in the middleweight rankings.
Tsarukyan moved up two positions in the pound-for-pound standings, with the promotion crediting victories in wrestling and grappling competitions outside of MMA as the basis for the adjustment — an unusual but notable nod to activity beyond the cage.
Roman Dolidze, 37, has now edged past Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings, sitting at number 12 with Costa dropping to 13. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, earned the move on the strength of a successful light heavyweight debut, defeating sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Dolidze carries a 15-5 record and averages 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.7 submission attempts in the same span. Costa, the hard-hitting Brazilian known as "The Eraser," holds a 16-4 record and remains one of the division's most dangerous strikers at 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute with a 58 percent accuracy rate. Costa also enters the light heavyweight rankings at number seven following his own divisional move.
At featherweight, Aaron Pico has broken into the top 15. The 29-year-old American out of Jackson-Wink MMA carries a 14-5 record and an eye-catching 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most active wrestlers despite standing just five-foot-eight. Josh Hokit also debuts in the rankings, entering the heavyweight division directly at number five.
Why it matters
- Dolidze's rise over Costa reshapes the middleweight picture and could influence future matchmaking in both 185 and 205 pounds
- Costa's dual presence in two divisional rankings signals a genuine move up to light heavyweight
- Pico's top-15 featherweight entry puts him in range of ranked opposition for the first time in the UFC
