Viral
Influencer Takes on 6-Foot Humanoid Robot in First-of-Its-Kind Cage Fight: ‘I’m Scared for You’
A fight cage in San Francisco became the setting for an unusual human-versus-machine experiment when Frankie LaPenna agreed to trade blows with a 6-foot humanoid robot.
In the video robotics company REK shared on Instagram on Sunday, September 20, LaPenna, 29, faced the remote-controlled machine during an event staged by robotics company REK, which described the exhibition as its first human-versus-humanoid robot fight.
Before the action started, someone in LaPenna’s corner acknowledged what he was about to face.
“I’m scared for you man,” his coach said.
LaPenna entered wearing a helmet and protective padding. Video showed him landing several punches before the robot answered with a series of kicks.
One strike knocked him to the canvas.
Despite its futuristic appearance, the robot was not fighting autonomously.
A human operator controlled its movements remotely as part of REK’s work on a virtual-reality combat system that lets people operate humanoid machines.
REK’s CEO later told the Daily Mail that LaPenna recovered, knocked the machine off balance and ultimately tore its head off during that bout.
He reportedly hurt his hand while punching metal but otherwise avoided serious injury.
LaPenna took part in three robot fights, including one against a smaller Unitree G1 before facing larger machines.
Online viewers quickly connected the footage to science fiction movies like The Terminator.
One commenter joked, “Didn’t we have, like, 6 movies explaining why this is a bad idea?”
Another added: “Funny but also kinda scary.. solid metal that doesn’t understand how to pull a punch or get gassed… Suddenly the human skeleton seems very fragile.”
A third added, “i promise you this video will go down in history as the tipping point lmfao”
“Robots in 20 years: THEY MADE US FIGHT IN CAGES!!!” another wrote.
“Bruh we’re literally building what we’re afraid of,” someone else added.
