A detailed analysis argues that Khabib Nurmagomedov's boxing skills, particularly on the medium distance, have been underappreciated. The analysis examined his last five fights using a points system and found he won the striking exchanges in four of them, including against elite strikers. Against Al Iaquinta, Khabib landed 77 significant strikes to 23; against Edson Barboza, 25 to 11; he went roughly even with Conor McGregor (16-19) and Dustin Poirier (6-6), and outpointed Justin Gaethje (14-12.25). The piece emphasizes how Khabib's jab, particularly when combined with level changes, allowed him to maintain pressure safely and close distance for takedowns. The analysis concludes that without strong boxing skills on the medium range, Khabib would have found it much harder to implement his wrestling game plan and likely would have suffered a loss during his career.
A detailed analytical breakdown is making the case that Khabib Nurmagomedov's boxing ability, specifically at medium range, has long been overlooked by fighters and observers who view him primarily as a wrestler.
The piece examined Nurmagomedov's last five fights through a structured points system and found that the undefeated Russian won the striking exchanges in four of them. The numbers were stark in some cases. Against Al Iaquinta, Khabib landed 77 significant strikes to Iaquinta's 23. Against Edson Barboza, the count read 25 to 11 in Khabib's favor. He traded roughly even with both Conor McGregor, where the count was 16 to 19, and Dustin Poirier at 6 to 6, and edged Justin Gaethje 14 to 12.25 under the system used.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record and competed at lightweight for the UFC. Now 37, the Russian Orthodox fighter stood five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and averaged 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy across his career — numbers that take on new meaning in light of this analysis. He also averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes, one of the most dominant grappling rates in the division's history.
Al Iaquinta, also 39 and fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, holds a career record of 14-7-1. The New Yorker averaged 4.06 significant strikes per minute but connected on just 40 percent of his attempts, a gap that the striking count from their fight reflects clearly.
Dustin Poirier, nicknamed The Diamond and now 37 himself, carries a 30-10-0 record and is one of the more complete strikers in lightweight history, averaging 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. The analysis going roughly even against him in striking exchanges is among the stronger data points in the argument.
Why it matters
- The analysis reframes Khabib's dominance as a product of boxing craft, not just elite wrestling
- His jab combined with level changes allowed him to close distance and set up takedowns safely
- The argument suggests his striking served as the foundation that made his wrestling game plan viable throughout his unbeaten career
