What is Shavkat Rakhmonov's religion? 'Nomad's' personal and cultural background explained
Shavkat Rakhmonov, one of the UFC's most promising welterweights, is an undefeated fighter with a perfect record of 18 victories, all by finish. The Kazakh fighter will face Ian Machado Garry in a high-stakes title eliminator bout on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of UFC 310.
Before the showdown, let's take a look at the 'Nomad's personal and cultural background.
What is Shavkat Rakhmonov's religion?
Shavkat Rakhmonov follows Islam and is a devout Muslim. His faith is central to his life, and he frequently shares his religious beliefs on social media.
He was born in Uzbekistan's Sho'rchi District and later relocated to Kazakhstan with his family, where they became citizens. He is from the Altynbai clan of the Alimuly tribe.
When Shavkat Rakhmonov opened up on Kazakhstan's cultural history and its influence on his journey
UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov once shared insights into Kazakhstan's vibrant cultural history and his journey into combat sports during an episode of UFC Connected.
The 30-year-old fighter highlighted the deep respect Kazakhs hold for their ancestors, describing them as bold, warlike steppe nomads who valued courage and heroism. He emphasized that Kazakh culture treasures its warriors or baturs, for their bravery and loyalty:
"What makes Kazakhstan different is its soul. People are very friendly, and very hospitable, and the men are very bold and daring. I don't want to boast about my ancestors, but they were no ordinary people. They were steppe nomads. They would move from place to place. They were a warlike people. Kazakhs have always valued their courageous warriors, their baturs [heroes] and loved them."
Rakhmonov also reflected on his childhood, revealing that his passion for fighting began at an early age, largely influenced by his older brothers. They encouraged him to engage in neighborhood fights, which he found thrilling and formative:
"We were very active as children, we did not stand still at home. Boys in the neighborhood would gather and play together. My older brothers used to make me fight. They would ask me if I would fight another kid, and I would never refuse. I would beat everyone, except for kids who were much older than me. I liked to fight, I enjoyed it immensely."
Check out Shavkat Rakhmonov's comments below (1:57):