Gago Drago

Gagik Harutyunyan (Armenian: Գագիկ Հարությունյան; born 8 March 1985), better known as Gago Drago, is an Armenian-born Dutch welterweight kickboxer. 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 was born in Verishen, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union 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 the Netherlands 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]

• 2010 Enfusion Kickboxing Tournament Champion -70 kg
• K-1 World MAX 2010 Semifinalist
• K-1 World MAX 2006 Semifinalist
• 2004 WMTC European Muay Thai Champion (1 title defense)
• 2002 Benelux Muay Thai Champion

• List of K-1 events
• List of K-1 champions
• List of It's Showtime events
• List of male kickboxers

• Gago Drago's Official Homepage
• Gym Alkmaar
• It's Showtime Archived 2021-01-25 at the Wayback Machine
• Gago Drago profile at ArmenianClub
• Gago_Drago profile & fights at Rusmma.at.ua