WTF?! You might think there are plenty of reasons why a real person shouldn't fight a humanoid robot in a cage match, but it happened anyway. The state of California wasn't pleased about this and has now sent a cease-and-desist letter to the robotics startup behind the event, telling it to stop holding these unsanctioned matches.
Last month, YouTuber Frankie LaPenna fought three different robots from REK, including a distinctly Terminator-like machine. At one point, the robot gave LaPenna a brutal kick to the face that sent him into the side of the cage, while another kick to the stomach sent the influencer flying onto his back. A different robot also put LaPenna on the ground with a fast series of punches to the face. It's all a bit concerning, really, though the child-like robot didn't put up much of a fight.
The California State Athletic Commission was also concerned about the event. It sent a cease-and-desist letter on September 30, demanding that REK stop hosting, promoting or sponsoring these fights.
REK CEO Cix Liv proudly shared the letter on X, writing that "we made it boys."
– CIX 🦾 (@cixliv) September 30, 2026
The letter notes that any boxing or mixed martial arts contest, match, or exhibition, involving any human in the state of California, must first have approval from the California State Athletic Commission.
The letter adds that Business and Professions Codes section 18870 and 18878 make it a misdemeanor to promote or participate in a boxing or martial arts contest, match, or exhibition involving any human without a license.
Liv's unlikely to be too worried about the letter: don't be surprised if the fights simply move to another state or country. The free promotion will probably help, too.
Away from the legal ramifications, the fights illustrate just how quickly humanoid robots are advancing. It wasn't too long ago when a slight push from a human would have sent one of these machines sprawling to the floor and flopping around like a fish out of water. Video of the robots pounding the crap out of LaPenna looks like one of those pre-apocalypse news reports you'd find in an RPG about an AI that destroys the world.
There have been several reports recently about the military investigating use cases for humanoid robots. The US Army just named five companies as winners of the xTechHumanoid competition, which looks at ways these machines can be utilized in future military operations. One of the robots developed by a winner looks like it should be carrying a laser rifle and already has ballistic protection.
More recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new military command designed to expand the use of autonomous and robotic capabilities across the US armed forces.
It's not just the US, either. China is preparing humanoid robots for combat as it moves them from labs to military training grounds.