A detailed statistical breakdown reveals that Khabib Nurmagomedov's boxing skills, particularly on the mid-range, were a crucial but often overlooked aspect of his success. Justin Gaethje praised Khabib's jab, noting its effectiveness was amplified by constant level-change threats. Against his last five opponents, Khabib either won or drew on the feet in four of five fights, including victories over Edson Barboza (25-11 strikes), Al Iaquinta (77-23), and near-even exchanges with Conor McGregor (16-19) and Dustin Poirier (6-6). The analysis emphasizes that Khabib's striking allowed him to safely maintain pressure and set up his takedowns against the cage, where he was most effective. Without his mid-range striking capabilities, his wrestling success would have been significantly more difficult to achieve.
