Gago Drago

Gago Drago (Armenian: Գագո Դրագո; born March 8, 1985) is an Armenian-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 under Edwin van Os.

Biography and career

Gago Drago was born as Gagik Arutyunyan in Verishen, 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.^[1] 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.

Titles

• 2010 K-1 World MAX 4rd Place
• 2010 Enfusion Kickboxing tournament champion
• 2006 K-1 World MAX 4th Place
• 2004 WMTC European Muay Thai champion (1 title defense)
• 2002 Benelux Muay Thai champion

Kickboxing record
Total	94
Wins	71
By knockout	35
Losses	17
By knockout	3
Draws	4
No contests	2