We already knew about fights between humanoid robots, particularly in China, where these machines are starting to be used in genuine competitions. But this time, we're talking about the first ever showdown between a human being and a robot. On 18 September, in San Francisco, a humanoid robot standing 1.73 metres tall and weighing 75 kilos stepped into a cage against a flesh-and-blood man. The bout was organised by REK (Robot Entertainment Kombat), a young American company working on the concept of remotely piloted humanoid robot fights. For the occasion, an influencer by the name of Frankie LaPenna agreed to climb into a ring and face the T800, designed by Chinese firm EngineAI. Things started off reasonably well for him, but the mood soured fast once he got a taste of his mechanical opponent's metal front kicks. The result: he lost.
Skynet is coming
Unveiled at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the T800 from China's EngineAI clearly wasn't built to do the washing-up or fold your laundry. At 1.73 metres tall, it can deliver up to 14 kW of instantaneous power. During the San Francisco bout, several especially powerful kicks sent Frankie LaPenna crashing into the cage walls before putting him on the floor. The robot obviously doesn't display strategy the way a real fighter would, but its ability to string movements together and, above all, to keep its balance after impacts already gives you a sense of the progress being made in humanoid robotics.
Oh yes, one important detail worth pointing out: for now, the T800 isn't autonomous. It's remotely controlled by a human operator who directs its movements and issues its instructions. We're still a long way from an autonomous robot capable of fighting and reacting off its own bat, but make no mistake, we're slowly getting there.
Sarah Connor?
For combat sports fans, the footage is fascinating, because you can clearly see that the T800 is more comfortable with certain kicks than it is with its fists. Its front push kick is particularly effective and is enough to slam its opponent violently to the floor. Conversely, movements requiring significant rotation naturally remain trickier for a machine that has to manage its centre of gravity and its bulk. It's worth remembering that EngineAI had already shown off the T800's physical capabilities in a demonstration back in December 2025. Its own CEO, Zhao Tongyang, agreed to take a kick from his robot, albeit while wearing serious protective gear.
This San Francisco bout is part of a trend that's starting to gather real momentum. As a reminder, last May China staged a tournament pitting humanoid robots against each other in Hangzhou. Then, this summer, came the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, where humanoid robots managed to beat some human records. Little by little, these machines are leaving the labs to become genuine objects of competition and spectacle. All for our viewing pleasure.
