Gago Drago
Encyclopedia
Gago Drago is an Armenia
n-Dutch
welterweight
kickboxer, fighting out of Alkmaar
, Netherlands
. He is known for his punch combinations and unpredictable kicking techniques and highly aggressive fighting style. Gago currently competes in K1-MAX
and trains at Gym Alkmaar, in the Netherlands
under Edwin van Os.
, Armenia
on March 8, 1985. In 1989, due to 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. 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. From 2002 to February 2006 he went four years unbeaten. Faldir Chahbari
was the fighter who stopped his winning streak during a WFCA-event in Holland on February 5, 2006.
On April 5, 2006 Gago made his debut at the K-1 World MAX 2006 World Tournament Open. In the final eliminations he fough against Danish Ole Laursen
. 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.
On the May 13, 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 June 30, 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
and gave him an eight-count. That was enough to earn the point-victory and advance to the semi-finals against Buakaw Por. Pramuk. Gago got knocked down in the second round and that ended the night for the young debutant. His opponent Buakaw Por. Pramuk went on to win the World MAX Title.
On October 3, 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.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n-Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
kickboxer, fighting out of Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He is known for his punch combinations and unpredictable kicking techniques and highly aggressive fighting style. Gago currently competes in K1-MAX
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
and trains at Gym Alkmaar, in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
under Edwin van Os.
Biography and career
Gago Drago was born as Gagik Arutyunyan in VerishenVerishen
Verishen is a village and rural community in the Syunik province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population was 2,532 in 2010, up from 2,314 at the 2001 census....
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
on March 8, 1985. In 1989, due to Nagorno-Karabakh War
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
, he moved, together with his family, to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. At the age of 14 he started training kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
at Gym Alkmaar. First as a sparring partner of well-known fighters like Sahin Yakut
Sahin Yakut
Şahin "Kaas" Yakut is a Turkish-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist, currently living in Heerhugowaard, Netherlands and training in Gym Alkmaar under Edwin van Os. He is a member of the It's Showtime Team and is a training partner of Gago Drago and Joerie Mes...
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. Early in his career he was not allowed to travel out of the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
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. From 2002 to February 2006 he went four years unbeaten. Faldir Chahbari
Faldir Chahbari
"Fast" Faldir Chahbari is Moroccan-Dutch welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Brummen, Netherlands. He a x2 Muay Thai amateur world champion and is the former W.F.C.A...
was the fighter who stopped his winning streak during a WFCA-event in Holland on February 5, 2006.
On April 5, 2006 Gago made his debut at the K-1 World MAX 2006 World Tournament Open. In the final eliminations he fough against Danish Ole Laursen
Ole Laursen
Ole 'Iron Fist' Laursen is a Danish welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer and lightweight mixed martial artist, fighting out of Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand.-Biography:...
. 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.
On the May 13, 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 June 30, 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
Albert Kraus
Albert “The Hurricane” Kraus is a Dutch welterweight kickboxer. He was the first K-1 World MAX 2002 champion and has also held four separate world titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai...
and gave him an eight-count. That was enough to earn the point-victory and advance to the semi-finals against Buakaw Por. Pramuk. Gago got knocked down in the second round and that ended the night for the young debutant. His opponent Buakaw Por. Pramuk went on to win the World MAX Title.
On October 3, 2007 at the K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Final, Gago Drago fought the 2005 K-1 World Max Champion Andy Souwer
Andy Souwer
Andreas "Andy" Souwer is a Dutch welterweight shoot boxer. He is two time K-1 World MAX champion as well as a three time Shootboxing World tournament champion, fighting out of Mejiro Gym, Amsterdam, Netherlands....
in the tournament quarter finals and was defeated by right hook KO.
Titles
- 2010 Enfusion Kickboxing tournament champion -70 kg
- 2004 WMTC European Muay Thai champion (1 title defense)
- 2002 Benelux Muay Thai champion
Kickboxing record
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Legend: |
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