A detailed technical analysis examined Khabib Nurmagomedov's often overlooked boxing ability, particularly his middle-range striking and jab. The analysis reviewed his final five UFC fights, scoring significant strikes on the feet against opponents including Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Gaethje specifically praised Khabib's jab, noting its effectiveness was enhanced by his ability to change levels and threaten takedowns. The breakdown showed Khabib either won or competed evenly on the feet in four of five analyzed bouts, including dominant performances against Barboza (25-11) and Iaquinta (77-23), and competitive exchanges with elite strikers like McGregor and Gaethje. The analysis concluded that Khabib's middle-range striking was crucial to his success, allowing him to maintain pressure safely and set up his wrestling attacks against the cage.
