The UFC has released updated rankings with several notable changes across divisions. Arman Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, reportedly due to victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments. Roman Dolidze surpassed Paulo Costa in the middleweight rankings after Costa's successful light heavyweight debut against #6 ranked Azamat Murzakanov. Costa now sits at #7 in the light heavyweight division. Aaron Pico has entered the top 15 at featherweight, while Josh Hokit debuts directly at #5 in the heavyweight rankings. These movements reflect recent fight outcomes and divisional shifts.
The UFC's latest rankings update, released April 14, has reshuffled several divisions, with lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and the middleweight picture drawing the most attention.
Tsarukyan climbed two spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, a movement the UFC attributed to victories in wrestling and grappling tournaments rather than an in-cage result.
The most significant divisional shift came at middleweight, where Roman Dolidze overtook Paulo Costa to claim the number 12 spot. Dolidze, 37, carries a 15-5 record and represents Georgia out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-two fighter owns a 76-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game, averaging 1.16 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 3.19 significant strikes per minute at 41 percent accuracy.
Costa's drop to 13th at middleweight stems from his move up a weight class. The 35-year-old Brazilian, now 16-4, made a successful light heavyweight debut against ranked contender Azamat Murzakanov, earning the number 7 spot in that division in the process. At middleweight, Costa had been a consistent finisher, averaging an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy across his career.
Aaron Pico, 29, entered the featherweight top 15 on the strength of his 14-5 record. The Jackson-Wink product stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach and is a prolific wrestling threat, averaging an extraordinary 8.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. Josh Hokit made an even more dramatic entrance, debuting directly at number 5 in the heavyweight division.
Why it matters
- Costa's jump to light heavyweight opens middleweight's top 10 for other contenders to consolidate position
- Dolidze's move into the top 12 at middleweight, with his takedown and submission threat, adds a fresh stylistic wrinkle to the division's contender landscape
- Pico's featherweight ranking debut and Hokit's immediate placement at heavyweight suggest both men could find themselves in high-stakes matchups very quickly
