Gago Drago

Gago Drago
Born Gagik Arutyunyan
8 March 1985
Verishen, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Native name Գագո Դրագո
Other names Drago
Nationality Dutch
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
Division Welterweight
Style Muay Thai, Kickboxing
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Alkmaar, Netherlands
Team Loeks Gym Alkmaar
Trainer Peter van Os
Years active 2001–present
Kickboxing record
Total 108
Wins 76
By knockout 36
Losses 26
By knockout 6
Draws 4
No contests 2
Website www.gagodrago.com
Last updated on: 26 April 2014

Gagik Harutyunyan (Armenian: Գագիկ Հարությունյան; born 8 March 1985), better known as Gago Drago, is an Armenian-born 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.

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. 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. 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. 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Titles

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record
76 Wins (36 (T)KO's, 40 decisions), 26 Losses, 4 Draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2014-04-26 Win Omar Amrani Mix Fight Gala XV Darmstadt, Germany TKO 2 1:53
2012-11-03 Loss Batu Khasikov Battle of Moscow 8 Moscow, Russia KO (right cross) 1
2012-09-08 Win Baker Barakat Merseburger Fight Night Merseburg, Germany Ext. R. Decision 4 3:00
2012-05-27 Loss Andy Ristie K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final 16 Madrid, Spain Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2012-02-05 Loss Yuri Bessmertny Thai Boxe Mania Turin, Italy KO (right high kick)
2011-11-06 Loss Bovy Sor Udomson Shoot the Shooto 2011 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2011-09-24 Loss Artur Kyshenko BFN Group & Music Hall presents: It's Showtime "Fast & Furious 70MAX", Quarter-finals Brussels, Belgium TKO (Referee stoppage) 3 1:03
2011-06-18 Loss Abraham Roqueñi It's Showtime Madrid 2011 Madrid, Spain Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2011-03-06 Loss Artur Kyshenko It's Showtime Sporthallen Zuid Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (5-0) 3 3:00
2010-12-11 Loss Yavuz Kayabasi Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens Athens, Greece Decision (4-1) 3 3:00
2010-11-08 Loss Yoshihiro Sato K-1 World MAX 2010 Final, Semi-finals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-11-08 Win Mohammed Khamal K-1 World MAX 2010 Final, Quarter-finals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-10-03 Win Su Hwan Lee K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 - Part 2 Seoul, South Korea KO (Right High Kick) 2 2:52
Qualifies for K-1 World MAX 2010 Final.
2010-09-12 Loss Mohammed Medhar Fightingstars presents: It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (4-1) 3 3:00
2010-07-10 Win Pajonsuk Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament '10, Final Lisbon, Portugal Decision 3 3:00
Wins Enfusion Kickboxing Final 4 2010 tournament title -70 kg.
2010-07-10 Win Rick Barnhill Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament '10, Semi-finals Lisbon, Portugal KO 2
2010-05-29 Loss Leroy Kaestner It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (4-1) 3 3:00
2010-03-06 Loss José Reis Gala Internacional de Kickboxing Alenquer, Portugal Decision 5 3:00
Fight was for W.F.C.A. K-1 Rules (72.5kg) World title.
2010-02-13 Win Yutaro Yamauchi It's Showtime 2010 Prague Prague, Czech Republic Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-01-? Win Pasi Luukkanen Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament '10, 2nd round Koh Samui, Thailand Decision 3 3:00
Qualifies for Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament, Semi-finals.
2010-01-? Win Bruno de Carvalho Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament '10, 1st round Koh Samui, Thailand Decision 3 3:00
2009-11-20 Loss Marcus Öberg K-1 Rumble of the Kings 2009 in Stockholm Stockholm, Sweden Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2009-10-26 Win Taishin Kohiruimaki K-1 World MAX 2009 Final, Super Fight Yokohama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2009-08-29 Win Barnabas Szücs It's Showtime 2009 Budapest Budapest, Hungary Ext.R TKO (Ref. stop/gave up) 4 0:46
2009-07-13 Loss Yuya Yamamoto K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 8 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Fails to qualify for the K-1 World MAX 2009 Final although will be invited to take part in a Super Fight.
2009-05-16 Win William Diender It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands TKO (Doc. stop/cut) 3
2009-04-21 Win Yoshihiro Sato K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 16 Fukuoka, Japan Ext. R. Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
Qualifies for K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 8.
2009-02-08 Loss Murat Direkçi Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 Antwerp, Belgium TKO (Referee stoppage) 1 2:23
Fight was for vacant It's Showtime 70MAX World title.
2008-11-29 Loss Chahid Oulad El Hadj It's Showtime 2008 Eindhoven Eindhoven, Netherlands Decision 3 3:00
2008-09-06 Win James Martinez It's Showtime 2008 Alkmaar Alkmaar, Netherlands KO (Right high kick) 1 2:03
2008-07-07 Loss Masato K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2008 Final.
2008-05-31 Loss William Diender Beast of the East Zutphen, Netherlands KO (Right hook) 2 1:26
2008-04-26 Win Warren Stevelmans K-1 World GP 2008 in Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2008-04-09 Win Gori K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16 Hiroshima, Japan KO (Left hook) 3 2:56
Qualifies for K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8.
2008-03-15 Draw Chahid Oulad El Hadj It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy 2008, Super Fight 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands Decision draw 5 3:00
2008-01-29 Win Luis Reis Kickboxing Champions League Lisboa, Portugal Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2007-11-30 Win Arnaldo Silva Kickboxing Cup 2007 Lisboa, Portugal Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2007-10-03 Loss Andy Souwer K-1 World MAX 2007 Final, Quarter-finals Tokyo, Japan KO (Right hook) 2 1:43
2007-06-28 Loss Mike Zambidis K-1 World MAX 2007 World Tournament Final Elimination Tokyo, Japan Ext. R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
Despite losing his fight Drago will be invited to K-1 World MAX 2007 Final.
2007-06-02 Win Ait Naceur Gentleman Gala Tilburg, Netherlands TKO (Corner stoppage) 3 1:05
2007-04-04 Win Yutaro Yamauchi K-1 World MAX 2007 World Elite Showcase Yokohama, Japan TKO (Corner stoppage) 3 1:50
2007-02-25 Win Rick Barnhill It's Showtime Trophy 2007 - Manchester, Super Fight Altrincham, UK KO (Knee strike) 3 1:26
2007-02-04 Win Ray Staring It's Showtime Trophy 2007 - Zwolle, Super Fight Zwolle, Netherlands KO (Left high kick) 4 1:34
2006-12-03 Win Bejan Ahmedi It's Showtime 2006 Alkmaar Alkmaar, Netherlands KO (Punches) 1
2006-09-23 Win Kamal Chabrani It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2006, Super Fight Rotterdam, Netherlands TKO (Ref Stoppage, 3 Knockdowns) 1 2:58
2006-09-04 Win Naoki Samukawa K-1 World MAX 2006 Champions' Challenge Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-06-30 Loss Buakaw Por. Pramuk K-1 World MAX 2006 Final, Semi-finals Yokohama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-06-30 Win Albert Kraus K-1 World MAX 2006 Final, Quarter-finals Yokohama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-05-13 Loss Ray Staring K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-04-05 Win Ole Laursen K-1 World MAX 2006 World Tournament Open Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Qualifies for K-1 World MAX 2006 Final.
2006-02-04 Loss Faldir Chahbari WFCA Gala Roosendaal, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2005-12-18 Win Pasi Luukkanen It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Prague, Super Fight Prague, Czech Republic KO (Punches) 2 1:20
2005-12-10 Win Jan de Keyzer Fights at The Border 4 Lommel, Belgium KO (Left high kick) 2
2005-10-30 Win Franklin Semeral It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Alkmaar, Super Fight Alkmaar, Netherlands KO (Right uppercut) 1
2005-10-02 Win Jerry Morris It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Tilburg, Super Fight Tilburg, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2005-06-12 Win Murat Direkçi It's Showtime 2005 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2005-04-23 Win Abdoul Toure Gala in Maldegem Maldegem, Belgium KO 1
2005-03-19 Win Ali Gunyar Gentleman's Promotion Gala Tilburg, Netherlands TKO (Doctor stoppage) 2
2005-02-19 Win Jan van Denderen Test of Talents Gala Mortsel, Belgium Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2004-11-27 Win Yassin Periquet Test of Talents Gala "Battle at The Coast" Mortsel, Belgium TKO (Doctor stoppage)
2004-10-10 Win Amir Zeyada 2 Hot 2 Handle Rotterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2004-05-20 Win Stjepan Veselic It's Showtime 2004 Amsterdam Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2004-03-20 Win Konorat WPKL Muay Thai Champions League XII Rotterdam, Netherlands KO
2004-02-21 Win Marijn Geuens Test of Talent Reloaded III Mortsel, Belgium KO (Liver punch) 3
Retains WMTC European title.
2004-01-25 Win Ali Gunyar Thaiboxing & Freefight event in Alkmaar Alkmaar, Netherlands TKO 2
2004-01-21 Win Marijn Geuens Fights at The Border III Lommel, Belgium KO 3
Wins WMTC European title.
2003-11-30 Draw Alviar Lima Killerdome IV Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision draw 5 3:00
2003-09-28 Win Mohamed Ouali WPKL Muay Thai Champions League XI Rotterdam, Netherlands TKO (Doctor stoppage) 4
2003-06-14 Win Rene Müller K-1 Germany 2003 Bergheim, Germany KO (Knee strike) 1
2003-06-08 Win Imro Main It's Showtime 2003 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2003-04-06 Win Stjepan Veselic K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary Holland Netherlands KO (Right knee strike) 3 2:40
2003-02-15 Win Nadier Larecht Xena Sport Victory Or Hell 8 Amsterdam, Netherlands KO 2
2002-11-30 Win Rafi Zouheir WPKL Muay Thai Champions League VIII Rotterdam, Netherlands TKO (Corner stoppage) 4 1:03
2002-11-24 Win Murat Kumas Xena Sport Victory Or Hell Netherlands KO (High kick) 1
2002-10-27 Loss William Diender Beast of The East Arnhem, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2002-09-29 Win Chris van Venrooij It's Showtime – As Usual / Battle Time Haarlem, Netherlands TKO (Corner stoppage) 4 1:28
2002-07-07 Win Marco Pique Bad Boys Day part. 1 Utrecht, Netherlands KO (Right high kick) 4
2002-05-25 Win Ludo Lasseu Thaiboxing Gala Deurne, Belgium TKO (Corner stoppage) 2
Wins Benelux Muaythai title.
2002-04-21 Win Marco Pique Xena Sport Victory Or Hell 7 Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2002-01-26 Win Chris van Venrooij Gym Alkmaar Fight Gala Alkmaar, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2001-12-02 Win Youssef Akhnikh MTBN Fight Gala in Sporthal Holten Marum, Netherlands TKO
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also