Gago Drago

Gagik Harutyunyan (Armenian: Գագիկ Հարությունյան; born 8 March 1985), better known as Gago Drago, is an Armenian-Dutch welterweight kickboxer from Alkmaar. He is known for his punch combinations and unpredictable kicking techniques and highly aggressive fighting style. Gago competed in K1-MAX and is trained at Loeks Gym, by Edwin van Os.[1]

Gago Drago
BornGagik Arutyunyan
(1985-03-08) 8 March 1985
Verishen, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Native nameԳագո Դրագո
Other namesDrago
Nationality Armenian
Dutch
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
StyleMuay Thai, Kickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofAlkmaar, Netherlands
TeamLoeks Gym Alkmaar
TrainerPeter van Os
Years active2001–present
Kickboxing record
Total108
Wins76
By knockout36
Losses26
By knockout6
Draws4
No contests2
Websitewww.gagodrago.com
last updated on: 26 April 2014

Biography and career

Gago Drago was born in Verishen, Armenia on 8 March 1985. In 1989, due to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, he moved, together with his family, to the Netherlands. At the age of 14 he started training kickboxing at Gym Alkmaar. First as a sparring partner of well-known fighters like Sahin Yakut and Dennis "Rus" Sharoykin. By the age of 20, his name Gagik Haroetjunjan, was replaced by "Gago Drago", when he was fighting his way up in the Dutch and Belgian kickboxing circuit.[2][3] Early in his career he was not allowed to travel out of the Benelux because of his visa issues. Finally in 2005 he received his Dutch citizenship and was free to fight anywhere in the world.

Drago is loved by fans of his very aggressive style, always moving forward and pressuring his opponents.[4] From 2002 to February 2006 he went four years unbeaten. This winning streak was stopped against Faldir Chahbari during a WFCA-event in Holland on 5 February 2006.

On 5 April 2006 Gago made his debut at the K-1 World MAX 2006 World Tournament Open. In the final eliminations he fought against Danish Ole Laursen.[5][6] After a nervous start Drago gave his opponent a standing 8-count in the second round and took the three round unanimous decision, placing himself among the top 8 fighters in the K-1 MAX division.[7]

On 13 May 2006 he fought a Superfight against Ray Staring at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam. He lost the fight on points.

Almost two months later on the 30 June 2006 Drago fought on his first K-1 World MAX Finals. In the first round he landed a knee on 2002 K-1 World MAX Champion Albert Kraus to score a knockdown and give him an eight-count. The outcome was a point-victory for Drago who advanced to the semi-finals against Buakaw Por. Pramuk. Gago got knocked down in the second round and lost by unanimous decision, ending the night for the young debutant. His opponent Buakaw Por. Pramuk went on to win the World MAX Title.[8]

Drago fought against Naoki Samukawa at the K-1 World MAX 2006 Champions' Challenge in Tokyo, Japan on 4 September 2006. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[9]

On 3 October 2007 at the K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Final, Gago Drago fought the 2005 K-1 World Max Champion Andy Souwer in the tournament quarter finals and was defeated by right hook KO.[10]

Drago later entered the 2010 Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament. Drago made his way to the finals, where he fought highly regarded Muay Thai fighter Pajonsuk. Drago won the bout by unanimous decision, handing the Thai his first loss in over two years and becoming the 2010 Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament Champion.[11]

At the K-1 World MAX 2010 World Championship Tournament Final, Drago defeated rising star Mohammed Khamal in the quarter finals, but lost to Yoshihiro Sato by decision in a competitive bout in the semi finals. Drago stayed behind however to support his friend, Giorgio Petrosyan, who defeated Sato in the finals.[12][13]

Drago faced Batu Khasikov at Battle of Moscow 8 in Moscow on 3 November 2012 and lost via knockout in round one.[14][15]

He faced Omar Amrani at Mix Fight Gala XV in Darmstadt, Germany on 26 April 2014.[16] Drago won via TKO in round two.[17]

Titles

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. http://www.gymalkmaar.com/over-ons/
  2. "Interview with Gago Drago". Bloodyknux.com. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  3. Trefeu, Serge (2010). "GAGO DRAGO (HOLLAND)". Siam Fight Mag. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  4. "Marcus Öberg vs Gago Drago". Rumble Of The Kings. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  5. Hirata, Shu (18 March 2006). "K-1 World MAX – 04/05/2006: 'Four More Opening Round Match-ups!'". ADCC NEWS. Retrieved 18 March 2006.
  6. Peligro, Kid (3 April 2006). "K-1 World Max 2006 Final Elimination Press Conference". ADCC NEWS. Retrieved 3 April 2006.
  7. Peligro, Kid (5 April 2006). "Champions Prevail at K-1 World Max '06 Final Elimination". ADCC NEWS. Retrieved 5 April 2006.
  8. Peligro, Kid (1 July 2006). "K-1: Buakaw Best in World Max Final!". ADCC NEWS. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  9. DiPietro, Monty (4 September 2006). "– K-1 WORLD MAX CHAMPIONS' CHALLENGE". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  10. Archived October 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "HyeFighter Gago Drago Is Crowned Enfusion Champion". HyeFighters. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  12. Smith, Michael David (3 October 2010). "K-1 MAX: Giorgio Petrosyan, Gago Drago Advance to Final 8". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  13. Herbertson, Daniel (8 November 2010). "Giorgio Petrosyan Dominates K-1 World Max GP". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  14. Batu Khasikov returns on Saturday, also against Gago Drago in November
  15. Batu Khasikov Destroys Gago Drago With First Round KO
  16. Mix Fight Gala XV set for April 26th in Germany, Rico Verhoeven to make Pro Boxing debut Archived 2014-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
  17. "Mix Fight Gala XV". Muaythaitv. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
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