A detailed breakdown of Khabib Nurmagomedov's striking ability reveals his jab and mid-range boxing were crucial to his success and often overlooked. Justin Gaethje praised Khabib's jab effectiveness due to his level changes, forcing opponents to constantly reset their hips. Statistical analysis of his last five fights shows Khabib won the striking exchanges at mid-range in four of them, including against elite strikers like Gaethje, McGregor, and Poirier. The analysis suggests Khabib's mid-range striking was essential to setting up his wrestling against the cage, and without it he would have faced significantly more difficulty. The author believes Khabib would have dominated the welterweight division against fighters like Woodley, Covington, Edwards, and Masvidal.
