#tko... i suffer

[sweet-like-cinnamon-5]

Here are some fun facts about me that may or may not also be Sandman unpopular opinions:

(spoilers)

1. I am a gigantic Morpheus apologist.

2. I am a gigantic Lyta Hall apologist.

3. I spend all of TKO in incredible pain and not even the "hurts so good" kind of pain either.

4. I am aggressively neutral about Daniel.

5. I strongly dislike several aspects of the comics ending.

6. Despite this I do love the comics a lot.

7. I had... some health issues and mental health issues when I read the Sandman comics for the first time, and a bunch of aspects of the text intersected with my issues in a really really bad way.

8. I am doing much better now (knock on wood knock on wood). And I am much more capable of saying: "This speaks to me. This doesn't speak to me. I agree with this take. I don't agree with this take. It's all ok." without getting weirdly upset.

9. I don't care that much about what other people think of the story. Not in a bad way!!! Not like I'm not interested in reading other people's takes, because I am! But I bump into Sandman opinions that I disagree with constantly (across reddit, tumblr, twitter, bsky, instagram, youtube, discord, other shit that I'm probably forgetting)- and that is ok. A lot of people who I like and respect a lot have very different opinions about certain things. That is ok. I'm sure I have a ton of opinions that people are disagreeing with constantly. That is also ok. Just for the record, I'm never fighting with people when I have different takes from them? And I generally don't think that people are fighting with me?

And I just think- this is a complex, heavy work. There are not easy answers to a lot of the questions. There is a lot of ambiguity and there is a lot of room for varying interpretations. It is also a work that is emotionally difficult for a lot of people (myself absolutely included!!!).

So I guess my unsolicited advice to anyone who may be reading this is: your takes are your own. Your opinions, interpretations, and emotional reactions to this story are your own. If your reactions aren't matching up with other people's, that is ok.

And now, I am going to seal myself off from the internet until I have watched vol 2. Both to avoid spoilers. And to give myself time to react, and to avoid being overly influenced by other people's opinions, and to give myself some space to deal with the MENTAL BREAKDOWN THAT I AM PROBABLY ABOUT TO HAVE.

Good luck everybody!!!!

[xxgrassdemonxx]

Hiiii! Sorry I vanished off of the face of Earth for a week or so- but I’m back! And with the last character (probably) for my Shadow Spark AU! There are other characters involved that didn’t end up getting their own post just because they didn’t have any major differences from their canon designs/lore and I might compile a few of them in one post.

Anyways… here is TKO!

KO’s ‘Evil’ alter ego differs a lot from his canon counterpart, starting with his origin.

(Before the story, KO’s between 4-9) Shadow Spark had been dabbling in using emotions to make her powers return to herself for a while when she became aware that her son (the son she was not very involved or interested in and was leaving to Professor Poison) had some powers of his own that could prove useful in her research. So she began taking over Professor Poison more frequently and pushed KO to emotional edges. Similar to how in the canon Dendy tried to figure out turbo power, Shadow Spark used fear, sadness, anger, and isolation to try and figure out what was causing KO’s underlying strength.

Eventually TKO emerged as a result of KO feeling powerless to stop Shadow Spark from hurting him and Professor Poison. TKO had no loyalty to Shadow Spark and originally he had nearly defeated her but when she threatened to never let Professor Poison take control again, he backed down- afraid he would lose his mom for good.

And when Shadow Spark pointed out how her and TKO were ‘the same’ in their struggle against their other versions, he backed down even more. He refused to be like her to the best of his abilities and let KO take control again.

Shadow Spark knew she couldn’t fully control TKO while she’s still powerless so KO being in control wasn’t the worst thing, but she still uses her control over Professor Poison to force KO and TKO to occasionally do her bidding. The three are in agreement that as long as TKO gets stronger and carries out Shadow Spark’s tasks, then Professor Poison will continue to exist.

Because of this agreement, TKO’s character is very different. He still yearns for freedom, but he is the one refusing it to himself. He came into existence because KO couldn’t be strong enough to protect Professor Poison so now TKO dedicates everything he has to keeping both Professor Poison and KO safe from Shadow Spark’s influence. Even though this is a choice he makes for himself, it builds up layers of resentment toward the very people he vows to protect. He’s ashamed of how weak KO is and he can’t stand to even look at Professor Poison because he’s constantly reminded of the fact that she isn’t aware of what Shadow Spark’s is doing.

But he can’t bring himself to take it out on his family, so instead he targets others and makes them feel as weak, alone, and burdened as he feels.

In the present (when the main story takes place) TKO targets Fink. 1, because he is jealous of her and the relationship she has with her own family, and 2, because TKO knows all about Laser Blast and Silver Spark and Fink is a person that Shadow Spark wouldn’t get upset about if TKO messed with her. (In the past there have been people he’s picked on that has gotten him in trouble with her; like POINT/Foxtail and villains from the board of villains)

TKO constantly goes after Fink and plaza, replacing canon Shadowy Figure’s roll in the story and even go a little beyond it since he can’t stop himself from getting directly involved and messing with all the ‘plaza dorks’.

It’ll probably be a while before I post for this AU again (I’M SOREY) but I’ll start work on comic-ish style stories for the big episodes that were voted on in the last poll. (Which decided that I’ll just go in canon order)

[time-official]

i am BEGGING google reverse image search to work normally like it did in 2015. why do i have to DL yr app. i just wanna know who's dagoth ur was yeeted onto pinterest so i can follow them pLSSSSS

[your-local-lakewood-dragoness]

I found your AU post through tags and I'd love love love to see something like that. It's such an interesting concept and I'd cry happy tears if it got fleshed out

I forgot to add that part from that post but COB DANG IT I crave LFTTE ("Let's Fight to The End") bad ending angst (grimdark if that's allowed) AND whump!!! OK KO community I am on. MAH. KNEES.

Get 👏🏻 To 👏🏻 It

[writing-for-life]

What Season of Mists Can Teach Us About Hope In a World Caught Between Cancel Culture and Toxic Positivity

The Netflix adaptation of Season of Mists has finally landed, and I always thought that SoM holds the most profound lessons about hope (I know it’s not immediately apparent, but bear with me) because it operates on a level that speaks directly to our anxieties about redemption, second chances, and the possibility of change. This analysis is mostly about the SoM arc as such and heavily based in the comics, but it makes references to the show (just in case you want to avoid spoilers).

The Hell of Our Own Making…

Season of Mists begins with Dream’s decision to rescue Nada from Hell, a choice not truly born from love, but rather from guilt and growing self-awareness. This distinction matters, because Dream doesn’t suddenly realise he still loves Nada (although the show obviously wants to tell us he still does by the end of SoM—it would be interesting to see if he still thinks so moving on into TKO, because since Nada’s arc has so obviously been combined with Thessaly’s, we also can assume that his reasons to go with Delirium change in the same way, aka: It becomes unimportant. I wrote about this here before); he goes because he’s beginning to understand that his pride and inflexibility have caused immense suffering (and he actually needed a little push from his siblings to get there).

There’s no “easy” redemption in that though. Dream’s motivation could be considered impure: mixed with wounded pride and the sting of criticism from his siblings. Yet this messy, incomplete motivation is precisely what makes the story resonate. In an era where we’re constantly grappling with public call-outs, cancel culture, and the possibility of someone being able to change despite their shortcomings often gets undermined, Dream’s flawed attempt at making amends feels rather on the nose.

When Dream arrives in Hell, he discovers that Lucifer has abandoned it entirely, leaving him with the keys to an empty realm. What could have been a simple rescue mission gets turned into something far more complex: It’s also a meditation on what we do with the spaces where suffering has occurred.

The following parade of supernatural entities who arrive in the Dreaming to claim Hell represents more than just an encyclopedic knowledge of world pantheons. Each party’s argument for why they should control Hell reflects different philosophical approaches to suffering, punishment, and redemption.

Hope as an Ongoing Process

The real insight of Season of Mists isn’t in its resolution but in its process. Throughout the arc, we see characters grappling with the possibility of change while remaining fundamentally themselves. Dream frees Nada and apologises, but he does so in a way that’s still recognisably proud until she slaps it out of him. Nada sort of accepts his apology but chooses reincarnation (in a way in both the comics and show, even if slightly differently. But she’s been dead both times, so a kind of rebirth is implied in both cases) over reconciliation (although she would have reconciled in the comics if he had given up being Dream, and that’s just… yeah, let’s not go there. That they changed this is actually one thing I liked about the show). At the end of the day, her choice drives home that forgiveness (and she’s less forgiving in the show) doesn’t always mean restoration.

And I can’t help but think that this feels relevant in a time when social media has compressed complex human situations into binary choices between cancellation and absolution. Season of Mists suggests a third path: acknowledgment without erasure and change without perfection.

The Netflix adaptation’s focus on Dream’s arc, relationships and emotional growth makes perfect sense for television, but it also highlights what makes Season of Mists so essential to understanding the full scope of The Sandman: Where the series necessarily emphasises character development and, well, romantic tension, Season of Mists is concerned with larger questions about justice, mercy, and the systems we create to manage suffering.

Sadly, streaming platforms prioritise bingeable content, and social media rewards quick emotional responses. But I think the core of Season of Mists offers something different: the slow work of grappling with complex moral questions without easy answers. It’s a story that asks us to sit with discomfort, to consider multiple perspectives, and to accept that hope might look different than we expect.

Perhaps the most profound lesson of Season of Mists is embedded in its very structure. Dream’s journey to Hell and back doesn’t fundamentally transform him. He remains proud, duty-bound, and slow to change. But it does crack something open in him, creating space for his gradual transformation that has defined the rest of the comics and also defines the rest of the show so far (though I have to say that they flattened his character right from the get-go in S1, and his change is much quicker, to the extent that it actually creates narrative inconsistencies, but that’s for another post).

This is hope as a process, hope as the slow work of remaining open to change rather than one dramatic moment of transformation. We often demand immediate accountability and instant growth, also here on Tumblr. But Season of Mists reminds us that meaningful change happens slowly, measured in small shifts rather than seismically.

Season of Mists ends not with Dream transformed but with Hell transformed, awaiting whatever comes next. It’s a perfect metaphor for hope itself (not just for suffering): not the promise that everything will be fixed, but the possibility that everything might be different. In a time of rapid consumption and quick solutions, it reminds us that it’s sometimes the process we need before we even think about the result.

The Long Game of Redemption

Season of Mists (and the whole of the Sandman in extension) is, at least to me, so profound because it understands that hope isn’t about happy endings. It’s about the possibility of change, even when that change is partial, imperfect, and incomplete. Dream saving Nada doesn’t undo the harm he caused, but it creates space for something new. The emptying of Hell doesn’t solve the problem of suffering, but it opens up possibilities that didn’t exist before.

For new fans, especially those discovering The Sandman through Netflix, Season of Mists offers a lot of food for thought about accountability, forgiveness, and change in ways that resist both cynicism and rose-tinted glasses. It suggests that hope might not look like redemption at all. It’s rather the simple act of creating space for something different.

And I can’t help but think that in a world that often feels trapped between cancel culture and toxic positivity, Season of Mists reminds us of the long, difficult work of staying open to change while accepting that transformation is never complete, never perfect, and never final. And maybe that’s the most hopeful message of all…

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Comics anon again,

Are there things outside of marvel/dc you'd recommend, or should I just be okay with mildly suffering for my own entertainment?

oh no no no if you only read Marvel and DC you'll be missing out on literally so much please read indie comics and graphic novels!!

check out Image Comics, Iron Circus, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, AfterShock, TKO Presents, Dynamite Entertainment, Vault Comics, Fantagraphics, Oni Press, Pantheon, Action Lab, and Mad Cave Studios just to get a SAMPLE of what's out there in the indie scene!

[wheeliescoot]

I really liked season 3 of ok ko for a lot of different reasons, but I think the cut eps made PV’s character suffer… :( I LOVED venomous in seasons 1-2, but I don’t think we got to explore the aftermath of shadowy figures impact on him and I think it hurt not exactly getting to see his pov on how he hurt everyone. I wish we could’ve gotten that!

PV has always struck me as someone who was so hard on himself that he pushed everyone away. He’s a villain, but not outright cruel to the ones he cares about. It’s just…hard to root for him after he succumbed to his desire for power after finding such a happy balance and peace with boxman. We saw boxman bend over backwards for PV so many times and I just wish we got to see venomous more apologetic, recognize boxman for all his work, etc.

Someone did an analysis/theory of shadowy overtaking venomous more and more as the series went on, but I also think a lot of it was more just him being exhausted and taking it out (somewhat uncharacteristically) on the people he loves. But also as much as people like to hc him as “inexpressive”, PV DOES have a pretty big temper (seen in boxman crashes and other eps)

I guess I just wish we got more characterization of PV in s3 to get to figure him out a bit more. How cruel is he? Is he really a monster or is he just a passionate villain? How much did he agree with shadowy?

And speaking of shadowy: I see a lot of fan interpretations that PV got locked in a cage like ko/tko…but we’re shown shadowy venomous is a HYBRID of PV and SF, not just shadowy taking over venomous’ body (similar to mko or pko) …and I think he’s so evil because this is venomous at his lowest: his chance to finally get the power he’s been yearning for.

Which is why it’s so frustrating !!! Like PV why would you do that to boxman and fink!!! That cake better have tasted good asf

[is-jan-jan-is]

Best comics by publisher:

I am bored and autistic and gay and so I've compiled an objectively subjective list of the 'best' books from each publisher. You're welcome, America.

IDW-honestly the current Star Trek run is phenomenal and we all love TMNT but I gotta give it to Atomic Robo.

Scout-Metal Shark Bro is so good that it honestly skewed my expectations for the entire publisher. They truthfully have two solid lines and the rest is an odd marketing campaign. The Black Caravan stuff was fun, though.

Boom!-SIKTC is undeniably amazing and 'We Only Find Them When They're Dead' is objectively top tier but for me, it's all about Coda. The art, the writing, the straight dude getting dunked on by his orc paladin wife-perfection. The first issue of the continuation just dropped and reading it was like returning home.

Ahoy!-Penultiman is pretty good but I think 'The Wrong Earth' is clearly their best title.

Valiant-hear me out, hear me out. I've collected ALL of Valiant's reboot, 2012-present. Unfortunately I must report that peak Valiant is X-O Manowar: Retribution. 1993 was a good year for whacky sci-fi comics. There is a scene wherein Aric of Darcia proclaims:"he must be like those men who prefer other men. I do not understand these men; but damn, do they make the best wizards!" That's peak fiction.

Dark Horse-look Hellboy is great. It's so good that I almost gave it to Mike Mignolia just on merit and industry influence alone. Unfortunately, Jeff Lemire exists. Black Hammer is perfect in every way. MIND MGMT was a strong second.

Image-Astro City. The characters are deep, emotional beings. Their stories breathe in the most human way. Most other titles conflate grit with maturity while AC makes you feel without several arcs of trauma porn. Also, im happy to see creators who remember that comic books are the home of wackiness. Its a slice of life hero series-10/10. Also Alex Ross. This (image) was annoying to choose because-despite suffering the unforgivable scourge of Robert Kirkman- Image has so many other good titles. Bitch Planet, Savage Dragon and Spawn (obligatory, obvi), Rumble, Chew, Outer Darkness, Descender/Ascender, etc .. not to mention Radiant Black. I still want to give it to Saga. Due to all the confusion with inage/wildstorm/dc having some claim to Astro City I almost skipped it entirely which is a shame but, yeah-Astro City.

TKO Studios-honestly, I'm not sure that this company is still kickin'. They were a fun little experiment though, with several enjoyable titles. I can't say any of them really blew me away. But, if I had to pick a 'best' I'd give it to 'Sentient'. Jeff Lemire can do no wrong.

AWA-they're too new for a selection to have any real meaning but 'The Resistance' is pretty good. It's been a couple years and I hope they produce something else that's quality because E-Ratic was a pretty big let down.

D.C.-Crisis on Infinite Earths. It's a given. There is something to be said about the cultural impact of Crisis. Originally, 'crisis' stories were crossovers of varying stakes. The comic gods(Perez and Wolfman) changed the game with this one. Also,every Crisis story which follows was similarly silly and serious. The pseudo science wackiness and over the top theatrics gets me every time. No other comic company gets it right. D.C. has been getting progressively better and better these last couple years, especially now with the phenomenal 'Dawn of D.C.' stuff. But if I was stranded on an island and could only bring one D.C. title it would be Crisis. ('83 New Teen Titans is of course a strong second)

Oni Press- their Rick and Morty stuff was a guilty pleasure (because it's really quite good but that means I have to spend money on Rick and Morty) and 'The Sixth Gun' was well made. Regardless, their best title was clearly 'Pink Lemonade'. Its chaotic indie fun that doesn't make sense and doesn't have too.

Massive/Whatnot Inc: these guys are really new, started 2022 I think. Not really sold on them yet but one of their first titles, quested, was lots of fun. Pretty small selection so far but what they do have is quality. 'Best book' goes to Plot Holes. Not only did Sean Murphy give us the most tolerable Bruce Wayne, he also gave us this creative joyride. It's equal parts wacky and sincere and best of all, it's in the Murphy style. Even though its early on in the run it's one of those titles you look forward to. throughout the month.

Marvel-Marvel peaked in 1999 with Earth X. Don't get me wrong, I love a great deal of Marvel books. Al Ewing's Ultimates (NOT Bendis) was great. Personally, my favorite Avengers story was the Celestial Madonna saga of the sixties, but Waid's run was great(obvi) and Hickman's was too. Hickman's Xmen stuff...also happened. Cates and Jason aaron had good Thor runs. The first and last of Aaron's avenger arcs were great. Peter David's many 'Spider' runs were fun and Dan Slott sure does exist. The Sam Wilson cap runs were all phenomenal, especially the Symbol of Truth run-and Kelly Thompson's run on Carol was one of the best ever. Good Marvel books have been dwindling lately but Jed McKay's 'Avengers' is honestly one of the best books out there. Unfortunately, none of that good stuff comes close to Earth X. The prose, the thorough examination of human nature, the Alex Ross of it all. Earth X was an ode to Marvel lore which read better than most of Marvel history. 'Nuff said.

[emmy-the-dragoness]

The eyes from Echo!TKO was... interesting to try and figure out, but I think I managed okay! Never done an AU KO/TKO that's partially alien for an artfight attack, so this is very cool for me! 😊

Background credit over here

This TKO belongs to @here-to-cause-suffering / @aus-full-of-suffering

[kaisollisto]

i need two flowers pls. Emojis or pictures, I just need to suffer from the YEARNING. I mean, shamed into diligence on TKO. >_<

that ask was 1/2/24 btw, lol i hope u have been rightfully shamed. Stopping here otherwise i'll agonize and it'll never be done.

Prettier version.

[littleblueberryartist]

for the ask game, 💤 brace, or 🎨 brock? :3

OC outfit ask game

💤: OC in their sleep attire

Jokes on you Brace doesn’t actually have sleep attire he suffers from cartoon “I have one fit and that’s it”

That being said rather than proper pyjamas I can see him just putting on a baggy shirt and calling it a day so have that fhgfghf

🎨: OC in a cartoon character’s outfit

Brock is literally just OC-fied Brace who’s an au TKO so you know I had to hgfgfhg

That being said I think I got too used to Brace’s au look this is kinda cursed-

[monsters-conquer-the-world]

MONSTER MASH '23

ROUND TWO POST MORTEM

The following monsters have been SMASHED back to the graveyard!

Poor Wolfie... not only did he get eliminated, but he suffered the two most one-sided back-to-back losses since ol' Leprechaun. What's less surprising is that said losses were to Freddy Krueger and Alien--two 80s superstars that are still genre icons today.

On the flipside of those beastly beat-downs, round two saw our two closest matches yet: Bride of Chucky picked off Samara thanks to a single vote! Carrie actually TIED with the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but CftBL (if I called him Gillman would you know who I meant? This dude needs a shorter, punchier name) gets the TKO thanks to his higher season score.

You're swimmin' under thin ice, buddy! Creatch SQUEAKED by this time, but can he Shape of Water his way out of Candyman's clutches? Also in round three, sci-fi slaughterhouses Terminator and Alien will finally cross universes and test future steel against deep-space chitin! Tune in and place your bets!

[writing-for-life]

In the article above, British horror, EC Comics, DC Comics horror, splatter-punk and Unknown Worlds are mentioned. What do you think the other horror sub genres/influences are in the Preludes and Nocturnes arc?

Second question: About the tv version of Preludes and Nocturnes, do you not mind or were you disappointed in the lack of horror elements in that adaptation? When I read P&N, the most memorable things were how Ruthven Sykes dies and whatever happened to Rachel's dad. I like the shock factor of those scenes and more importantly a sense of unease. I just think horror has more impact when you feel something other than scared or freaked out.

Edit: I put some extra info in the reblogs…

Hey, thanks for the ask!

I don’t know what article you’re referring to since that didn’t come through or hasn’t been attached? You can link it again in the comments if you like.

I’m generally not a horror fan, so I’m probably not the right person to dive deeply into horror sub-genres. While especially Preludes & Nocturnes and The Doll’s House have some horror elements, I’ve personally always seen The Sandman as (dark) fantasy.

So no, I personally wasn’t disappointed by the lack of horror elements in the series because I never thought it the main genre anyway. And I think that might have also been exactly the reason why Sam Kieth dropped out?

In any case, I definitely think the visceral element of horror has a purpose that goes beyond “shock factor” though, so I understand if people who read the comics first and liked the tone of especially the earlier issues felt it was missing. I guess it’s very personal.

For me, it’s always been the other way round: While Preludes & Nocturnes sets up the story, it was always one of my least favourite arcs because to me, it felt a bit like Neil was trying to find his feet, and stylistically, I always thought it was a bit “neither here nor there”. I love the later arcs most (Brief Lives, The Wake and TKO in that order) because I feel the storytelling is tighter and has more depth, but that’s of course just my personal preference.

I also wasn’t big on the shoehorned DC references, so I was glad we didn’t need to suffer them in the series if I’m honest 🤣

Not sure if that answers your questions at all, but as I said, I freely admit I’m not a massive horror fan.

@elemen ask answered

[grounded-ko]

-=+=- Introduction -=+=-

Welcome to the Grounded!AU ask blog! The au is a combination of Grounded (the game by Obsidian) and OK KO: Let's Be Heroes!

Before you proceed please check the warnings listed here! A number of potentially triggering subjects come up in this au frequently! There is also a brief description of their au in there!

This au also contains heavy spoilers for the game Grounded and OK KO!

It's important to note that their POINT does not go by POINT anymore, and instead it is called Pointinent. So they may not immediately get what you mean if you start talking about POINT. They also don't know half of what's going on, so their answers may change depending on what they know in character etc. They are learning just as you are.

This blog follows Carpool Therapy canon and does not directly influence Grounded!AU canon.

-=+=- Rules -=+=-

-Shipping is not allowed.

-Send as many asks as you want as long as they are not repeats or asking about why I haven't responded to an ask.

-KO and TKO are six to eleven years old, so don't say anything you wouldn't tell a six to eleven year old.

-Any hate or bullying will get you blocked.

-Ask to tag

-=+=- Connected Blogs -=+=-

K-0 (K-0) : @k-0thepowcardfan11

Shiny (Pros!KO): @ask-prostheticko

Crux (A!KO): @ask-apocalypticko

Decomp (Decomp!KO): @ask-decomposingko

Spec (Spectral!KO): @ask-spectralko

Lone (Lone!KO): @asklonefighterko

Edgy (Edgy!Lone!KO): @askedgylonefighterko

Mercury (AU!KO): @askamongusko

DK (DK!TKO): @ask-dreamkeeper-tko

Mutant (Mutant KO): @ask-mutant-ko-n-tko

Bushy (B-O-T!KO): @ask-beast-o-tonicko

Atlas (Alterwolf Imprisonment KO): @ask-alterwolf-curseko

Brutal KO: @askbrutalko

Tarot (Propthetic TKO): @askpropthetictko

Slime (Project Distortion KO): @askdistortedko

My main blogs are @here-to-cause-suffering and @aus-full-of-suffering ! You can ask me more about the canon au there.

[nosmokesport]

Manel Kape Dominates Almabayev, Calls for UFC Flyweight Title Shot After TKO Victory

Manel Kape made it clear that he’s ready for a shot at the UFC flyweight title with a statement victory over Asu Almabayev. Headlining UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, Kape delivered a striking clinic before securing a third-round TKO at 2:16, forcing the referee to step in as Almabayev struggled to withstand the relentless onslaught.

The win was significant, not just for its dominance, but because Almabayev had not suffered a loss in nearly eight years, entering the fight with an impressive 17-fight win streak. That momentum came to a crashing halt as Kape dismantled him with speed, precision, and power.

Kape’s Bold Callout: “No More Denying Me”

Fresh off his commanding win, Kape didn’t hesitate to demand his long-awaited shot at the flyweight title.

“Who else is left? How many more do I have to beat?” Kape fired off in his post-fight interview. “I just finished a guy nobody wanted to fight. I can strike, I can wrestle—I can do it all. Give me my title shot.”

It was the words of a fighter who believes his moment has arrived. With six victories in his last seven fights, Kape has built a strong case for a championship opportunity.

Breaking Down Kape’s Masterclass

From the opening seconds, Kape established control. His footwork, head movement, and crisp combinations forced Almabayev into defensive mode. By the end of the fight, Kape had outlanded his opponent 63-40 in total strikes, but the real story was how dominant those exchanges felt.

Almabayev attempted to neutralize Kape’s striking with takedown attempts, but every shot was stuffed with ease. As frustration set in, Almabayev struggled to find an answer for Kape’s pressure. By round two, the difference in confidence was obvious—Kape was thriving, while Almabayev was merely surviving.

The finish came in the third when Kape trapped Almabayev against the fence and unloaded a barrage of punches and knees. With no escape, the referee had seen enough and called the fight, handing Kape one of the biggest wins of his career.

Does Kape Finally Get His Title Shot

The biggest question now is whether Kape’s next fight will be for UFC gold. He made his promotional debut against current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja back in 2021, losing a decision. But that was then. Since that bout, Kape has evolved into a more complete fighter, refining his skills and proving he belongs among the division’s elite.

Pantoja, meanwhile, has remained dominant, successfully defending his title three times. However, with limited fresh challengers left, Kape’s case is hard to ignore.

“I’ve done everything the UFC asked,” Kape stated. “I beat the guy nobody wanted. What more do I need to do? Give me my shot.”

If the UFC opts to delay his title opportunity, a fight with another top contender like Kai Kara-France could be on the table.

Almabayev’s Road to Redemption

For Almabayev, this loss exposed key areas that need improvement. While his grappling remains high-level, he struggled against a fighter who could both neutralize his wrestling and punish him on the feet. At 21-3, he still has a bright future, but adjustments are necessary.

A return fight against another ranked opponent would make sense, allowing him to showcase improvements and work his way back into title contention.

Kape’s Star Continues to Rise

Nicknamed “Starboy,” Kape proved why he’s one of the most exciting fighters in the division. He didn’t just win—he dominated, finishing an opponent who hadn’t lost since 2017. His finishing ability, confidence, and marketability make him a must-watch contender.

Whether he gets his long-awaited title shot or faces one more hurdle first, one thing is undeniable—Manel Kape is a major problem in the UFC flyweight division, and he’s coming for gold.

Source: Kape vs Almabayev UFC Main Event

[frontproofmedia]

October 12: Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title Showdown to Stream LIVE & Exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Follow @Frontproofmedia!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d. getElementById(id))(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

Published: September 10, 2024

The undisputed light heavyweight showdown between WBC/IBF/WBO unified champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) and WBA king Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs)— Saturday, Oct. 12 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. This can’t-miss matchup features two of the world’s best pound-for-pound practitioners, a long-awaited duel between a master boxer and a battering ram with a 100 percent knockout ratio. Beterbiev-Bivol will be promoted by Top Rank, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Matchroom Boxing and Sela.  “The epic matchup has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait until these two legends of the ring meet,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “I am thrilled that American fans can view the fight on ESPN+, a tremendous platform that consistently shows the biggest and best bouts." Beterbiev and Bivol were initially scheduled to fight on June 1, but Beterbiev suffered a ruptured meniscus in training. Bivol fought Malik Zinad on that date instead, scoring a devastating sixth-round TKO. Beterbiev last fought in January, knocking out British former super middleweight world champion Callum Smith.

(Featured Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)