Biography and Career
Gago Drago was born 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. 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 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.
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 November 3, 2012 and lost via knockout in round one.
Read more about this topic: Gago Drago
Famous quotes containing the words biography and/or career:
“As we approached the log house,... the projecting ends of the logs lapping over each other irregularly several feet at the corners gave it a very rich and picturesque look, far removed from the meanness of weather-boards. It was a very spacious, low building, about eighty feet long, with many large apartments ... a style of architecture not described by Vitruvius, I suspect, though possibly hinted at in the biography of Orpheus.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I seemed intent on making it as difficult for myself as possible to pursue my “male” career goal. I not only procrastinated endlessly, submitting my medical school application at the very last minute, but continued to crave a conventional female role even as I moved ahead with my “male” pursuits.”
—Margaret S. Mahler (1897–1985)