In a bizarre match that has generated attention online, a six-foot-tall humanoid robot stepped into a fighting ring against a human in San Francisco. The match was organised by US-based robotics company REK as part of its work on a virtual reality combat game in which humans can remotely control humanoid robots and compete against each other.
REK described the event as its first human-versus-humanoid robot fight and said more footage from the match would be released. Once the match started, LaPenna threw several punches at it, while the robot responded with punches and powerful kicks. At several points, the robot’s kicks appeared to knock LaPenna across the cage, highlighting the machine’s ability to move and strike with considerable force. One user wrote, “I’m curious how an actual fighter would do against this. I feel a pro would do much better. AI hysteria demands it.”
Another said, “Robots and humans fighting will be a part of the UFC in the next 5 years.
The robot, designed to resemble a futuristic combat machine, was seen moving around the ring and warming up before the fight began.
