Shavkat Rakhmonov claims Borat's representation of Kazakhstan was "completely wrong," says he won't leave alive if he visits the country
Ahead of UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov took part in a pre-fight interview with popular UFC content creator Nina-Marie Daniele. During their sitdown, the unbeaten Kazakh phenom was asked for his thoughts on the 'Borat' mockumentary film, as it features a wildly inaccurate version of Kazakhstan.
Naturally, Rakhmonov was not too pleased with the film's depiction of his home country. Through his translator, Rakhmonov detailed the reasoning behind his dislike for the film. While he understands that non-Kazakh viewers may find the mockumentary humorous, he feels differently.
"So, he [Rakhmonov] thinks it's stupid. He understands it's a comedy, and he understands why people like it, maybe for other countries it's funny but when he uses your country's name and flag and represents it completely wrong because Kazakhstan is not anything like he says it is, so he doesn't like it. Obviously every country has its own minuses but Kazakhstan is nothing like what Borat [portrayed]."
In fact, 'Nomad's' dislike of the film is such that he even threatened its lead actor, Sacha Baron Cohen, who also wrote the screenplay and produced the film in addition to playing the titular character. In short, if Cohen ever sets foot in Kazakhstan, he will not be alive, according to Rakhmonov.
"If Borat comes to Kazakhstan, he's not gonna leave alive."
Check out Shavkat Rakhmonov's thoughts on the 'Borat' mockumentary (11:54 and 12:34):
With UFC 310 just hours away, the undefeated welterweight has more to worry about than mockumentaries. He is set to take on fellow unbeaten 170-pounder Ian Machado Garry in a title eliminator and must emerge victorious if he hopes to realize his dream of challenging Belal Muhammad for welterweight gold.
Shavkat Rakhmonov wasn't born in Kazakhstan
While Shavkat Rakhmonov is an ethnic Kazakh, with his father being from the Altynbay clan and his mother belonging to the Konyrat tribe, he was actually born in Sho'rchi, Uzbekistan. However, 'Nomad' has only ever represented Kazakhstan in the UFC.
His current goal is to become his country's first-ever UFC champion by dethroning Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title. To do that, though, he must overcome Ian Machado Garry tonight.