What happens when a man steps into a fighting cage with a six-foot humanoid robot? A bizarre showdown in San Francisco has offered a glimpse of what such a fight could look like, after content creator Frankie LaPenna went up against a remote-controlled humanoid machine.
The unusual match was organised by US-based robotics company REK as part of its work on a virtual reality combat game. The concept allows humans to remotely control humanoid robots and compete against each other.
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In the video, LaPenna is seen facing the humanoid robot inside a fighting cage. The machine, designed to resemble a futuristic combat robot, moves around the ring and appears to warm up before the fight begins.
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Once the fight starts, LaPenna throws several punches at the robot, which responds with punches and powerful kicks. In the video, the robot is seen kicking and knocking LaPenna across the cage, drawing attention to the machine's ability to move and strike with considerable force.
The footage shows people standing outside the ring being amused by the robot’s fighting skills. REK described the event as its first human-versus-humanoid robot fight and said more footage from the match would be released.
"We just made history with the first Human VS Terminator robot fight. Frankie LaPenna gave it his all," the company said in the caption of the video shared on X.
Netizens React
The unusual fight has sparked a wider discussion online, with social media users wondering whether remotely controlled humanoid robots could eventually become part of professional combat sports.
One user wrote, "I'm curious how an actual fighter would do against this. I feel a pro would do much better."
Another said, "The bot has like one move, and he keeps walking into it. I demand a rematch with someone who can fight and give them a bat next time."
Another Humanoid Robot Video Went Viral
This is not the first time a humanoid robot behaving aggressively has drawn comparisons with the fictional Terminator. In an earlier viral video, a routine technology test turned into an extraordinary moment of surprise on September 7 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, eastern China, when an experimental robot executed an unexpected move and kicked a remote control directly out of its handler's hand.
According to a report by Fox News, the incident occurred inside a specialised robotics testing room, where engineers were evaluating the mobility and response calibration of a remote-controlled machine.
The latest human-versus-robot fight, however, was organised as part of REK's work on its combat gaming technology, offering a glimpse of how remotely controlled humanoid machines could be used in future forms of entertainment.
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