Analysis highlights Khabib Nurmagomedov's underrated striking at mid-range

A detailed breakdown of Khabib Nurmagomedov's final five UFC fights reveals his overlooked mid-range striking effectiveness, particularly his jab. The analysis used a flexible scoring system to count significant strikes at mid-range across fights with Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Khabib won the mid-range striking battle in four of these five fights, with particularly dominant performances against Iaquinta (77-23) and Barboza (25-11). Justin Gaethje specifically praised Khabib's jab, noting how his ability to change levels made it highly effective. The analysis concludes that Khabib's striking, combined with his wrestling threat, allowed him to maintain pressure safely and set up takedowns effectively. His jab was crucial in closing distance and controlling range, even against elite strikers like McGregor, Poirier, and Gaethje.