Detailed breakdown shows Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated striking at mid-range

An in-depth technical analysis of Khabib Nurmagomedov's final five UFC fights reveals his underappreciated striking ability at mid-range, particularly his effective jab. Justin Gaethje specifically praised Khabib's jab, noting its effectiveness was amplified by his level-change threats. The statistical breakdown shows Khabib won or drew the mid-range striking battle in four of five analyzed fights: 25-11 against Barboza, 77-23 against Iaquinta, 16-19 against McGregor, 6-6 against Poirier, and 14-12.25 against Gaethje. Against Gaethje, Khabib's jabs caused a nosebleed by the second round, and he maintained a 2-1 striking advantage before absorbing a hard left hand late in round one. The analysis concludes that Khabib's mid-range boxing was essential to his success, allowing him to safely maintain pressure and close distance for takedowns against elite strikers like McGregor, Poirier, and Gaethje. The author speculates Khabib would have dominated most welterweights at 170 pounds, including Woodley, Covington, Edwards, Masvidal, and Thompson.