The Don’t Flop Title Match: What To Expect

For more than two years the Don’t Flop title has been Tony D’s and Tony D’s alone. He hasn’t even really had a close title match since he took it from Oshea back in 2012, and toward the end of last year Unanymous was granted the opportunity to have a go. But no sooner had Unanymous stepped to the plate than Tony had cancelled, citing personal reasons.

The rescheduled clash, due to headline the first day of DF’s “Birthday 6.5,” now has another chance to a) take place and b) place itself among the great title defences in Don’t Flop’s repertoire. Tony D is all but indestructible right now: his only Achilles’ heel has been choking but he seems to have disciplined himself in getting his head back together for his battles in the last year. He’s given nothing short of a towering performance in each one. Just check out BattleRap.com's Top Don't Flop Battles Of 2014 for a taste.

There’s not a lot that can be said about the champ that hasn’t already been said. His last performance against Shotty Horroh was one of the all-time best, and although this was not a title defence he arguably put to bed the debate about who tops the U.K.’s ability chart right now. Tony D will be direct, realistic and he was already hilariously disparaging towards Unan in the aforementioned classic match-up (“He’s a proper wally, innit?”) so hopefully he’s considering taking the humorous approach he took against Suus.

However, after comfortably proving himself against Shotty, and with Shotty’s demolition of Unanymous marked as the moment, for many, that he shot to the top tier of U.K. battle rap, Tony may demonstrate the complacency that cost him the semi-final of the Times Change tournament in 2011. And, as his third title defence, he may simply be getting bored of being the best. It’s lonely at the top.

Unan, on the other hand, is always hungry (and that’s not a jab — he’s lost a tremendous amount of weight over the last 12 months) and he has the edge on Tony performance-wise, using more of the stage and delivering with utter conviction in every direction. There’s a reason he has been in the top tier for so long, and it’s his work rate and determination that have placed him within sniffing distance of being the Don’t Flop champ.

It’s that guttural rage and hunger that have to carry him through, because his fantasy threats and dragonspeak will not cut it here. Soul pulled him apart for the same reasons, and while entertaining, this hyperbolic imagery is not going to budge Tony. He needs to focus on angles and really make sure his approach is sound, and real. Of course there will be indirect bars from both, but going on their resumes and recent form, Tony is still simply too calm and too cutting to be fazed by Unanymous.

But perhaps he needs to be fazed. Unan would be a fantastic champ effort-wise and brand-wise — he has represented the Don’t Flop name for most of its existence — but Tony won’t lose this unless he slips.

Still, a great style clash and finally Unan’s chance to claim his throne after being overlooked for so long.

Tony D photo by Rob Clayton for Don't Flop.

Who do you have taking it? Let us know in the comments below.