The latest UFC rankings update includes several notable changes. Arman Tsarukyan moved up two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, attributed humorously to victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dollidze surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa successfully debuted at light heavyweight by defeating Azamat Murzakanov, who was ranked sixth. Costa himself entered the light heavyweight rankings at seventh. Aaron Pico entered the top 15 at featherweight, while Josh Hockit will debut in the heavyweight rankings at fifth place. These movements reflect recent performances and divisional changes by the fighters involved.
The UFC's latest rankings update, issued April 14, brought a wave of movement across multiple divisions, headlined by Paulo Costa's transition to light heavyweight and the ripple effects that followed at middleweight.
Costa, 35, made his light heavyweight debut a winning one, defeating Azamat Murzakanov and earning an immediate entry into the 205-pound rankings at seventh. The Brazilian carries a 16-4 record and had been ranked 13th at middleweight under Team Borracha. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His move up in weight now leaves a vacancy in the middleweight top fifteen that Roman Dollidze has stepped into, surpassing Costa in the divisional rankings.
Murzakanov, who entered the bout ranked sixth at light heavyweight, falls to 16-1 following the loss. The Russian southpaw out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe stands five-foot-ten and had been among the more active strikers in the division, landing 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy.
Aaron Pico broke into the featherweight top 15, a milestone for the 29-year-old American trained at Jackson-Wink MMA. Pico carries a 14-5 record and brings an elite wrestling foundation to the division, averaging a remarkable 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Josh Hockit also made a dramatic entrance into the heavyweight rankings, debuting at fifth place.
Arman Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, a movement the UFC attributed — with some humor — to recent wrestling and grappling tournament victories.
Why it matters
- Costa's divisional jump reshapes both the middleweight and light heavyweight top tens simultaneously
- Murzakanov's ranking will slide after losing to a debuting opponent at 205 pounds
- Pico's top-15 entry at featherweight signals he is a legitimate contender in a loaded division
- Hockit's debut at fifth in heavyweight is one of the most striking ranking placements in this update
