Khabib Nurmagomedov: A Legendary MMA Legacy

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a wrestler with top-notch skills in the lightweight division of UFC, and he is considered as one of the best grapplers in MMA history. Having started wrestling at a very young age, he began training in judo at 15 and combat sambo at 17. After entering MMA, he dedicated significant time to mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), showcasing a well-rounded grappling game. His strength is exceptional, and his skills in top positions, particularly in applying pressure with Jiu-Jitsu techniques, make him a nightmare for anyone taken to the ground.

Unlike other wrestlers who may face criticism for using a “lay-and-pray” strategy, Khabib actively moves on the ground, showcasing various positional transitions, guard passes, crucifixes, poundings, and more. His dominance in the ground game is attributed not only to his excellent wrestling but also to his profound understanding of Jiu-Jitsu.

Opponents, knowing the danger of being in a lower position, try to avoid it, but the challenge lies in his impeccable takedown skills, blending judo and wrestling seamlessly. His ability to control the fight on the ground is likened to a combination of top grapplers like Demian Maia, Georges St-Pierre (GSP), and Ben Askren, according to BJJ scout and MMA analyst.

In terms of strategy, Khabib tends to pressure opponents by utilizing excellent footwork and distance control, gradually pushing them into the cage. Once in the corner, opponents find it challenging to defend takedowns and are susceptible to being taken down with various techniques such as single-legs, double-legs, ankle picks, and more.

His fights often follow a pattern:

1. Close the distance using stiff jabs, flying knees, and hooks to push the opponent into the cage, limiting their striking options and making straight-line takedowns harder to defend.
2. Employ takedowns like single-legs or doubles on opponents with raised guards, followed by clinching against the cage. He excels in controlling the upper body in the clinch, making it difficult for opponents to escape.
3. Lure opponents into underhooks during the clinch, then transition to an over-under position, using superior grappling skills to take the opponent down. Techniques like leg trips and judo-style hip throws are showcased.
4. Once on the ground, he exploits various positions, such as applying a leg triangle if the opponent lies on their back, transitioning to wrestling-style rides if the opponent exposes their knees, or passing the guard and moving to side control or crucifix. He consistently controls the opponent’s arms and legs.
5. Even if opponents manage to escape, they are susceptible to back clinches, where he dominates with superior mat return techniques, eventually finishing with rear-naked chokes or ground and pound.

Khabib’s dominance in fights makes it almost impossible for his opponents to have any chance. Conor McGregor seemed like a ragdoll in the 4th round, giving up on striking and succumbing to a choke after being dragged around like a stuffed doll. Dustin Poirier also appeared to give up on the fight after his guillotine attempt failed, showcasing Khabib’s overwhelming control.

In reality, Khabib’s takedown skills weren’t always this exceptional. If you look at his early career and UFC debut, his takedown strategy mainly involved attempting single-leg dumps from a distance, transitioning to a failed attempt into the pipe position, and if that failed, escaping to the back. While this combination involved three techniques, it wasn’t enough to overcome all types of fighters in the UFC, as seen in his match against Gleison Tibau where all takedown attempts failed, revealing his limitations.

Later, Khabib developed a new skill at AKA – the body lock takedown from the clinch. His experience with upper body control, originally gained through Sambo, was enhanced by AKA’s systematic wrestling coaching. In a match against Abel Trujillo, Khabib showcased this skill with an astounding 22 successful takedowns, solidifying his reputation as a wrestling monster.

Khabib’s striking is not considered exceptional. While his striking accuracy and sense of distance are decent for a wrestler, his upright stance and rigid form make his headhunting tendencies apparent. Nevertheless, his physical abilities and stamina allow him to maintain a consistent pace, and his confidence in avoiding takedowns makes him unafraid to throw bold techniques like flying knees. However, compared to fighters like Justin Gaethje, Nate Diaz, and Tony Ferguson, who have proven their durability with multiple strong chins, Khabib’s durability is still questionable as he hasn’t faced many full-power strikes.

When attacked, Khabib tends to use shoulder rolling to evade and move backward. While his facial defense is surprisingly good, his kick defense is not as strong. He allows opponents to land kicks and doesn’t show effective counters to kicks. However, in the Gaethje fight, he demonstrated the ability to counter kicks with takedowns, challenging the notion that he is weak against kicks.

Nevertheless, Khabib’s primary weapon is his wrestling, and opponents often find themselves overwhelmed, unable to mount effective attacks. Wrestlers with good takedown defense and strong pressure striking, such as Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, and Conor McGregor, struggle against Khabib’s wrestling and grappling dominance. Khabib’s relentless chain wrestling is particularly effective in the cage, where traditional anti-wrestling strategies often fail.

While Khabib’s standing strikes are considered subpar among top-tier fighters, recent matches, especially since the encounter with Al Iaquinta, have shown improvements with his adoption of a left overhand. He occasionally attempts striking setups for takedowns instead of striking for the sake of takedowns. However, his vulnerability during moments of enjoyment in striking remains a concern, as seen in the Dustin Poirier fight. Despite facing danger, Khabib managed to escape and deliver an overwhelming performance for the victory. However, his persistent issues in striking seem yet to be fully addressed.

Overall, Khabib Nurmagomedov exhibits an extremely dominant performance on the ground, showcasing unparalleled grappling skills. His ability to control and neutralize high-level strikers like Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier due to his exceptional grappling makes him one of the UFC’s strongest wrestlers, leaving him unmatched in the division.