California Officials Challenge Startup’s Human-Robot Cage Fighting Events
State officials said the startup lacked approval for the bouts, which drew more than 10 million YouTube views and could bring misdemeanor charges.
- On Sept. 23, the California State Athletic Commission issued a cease-and-desist order to Robot Entertainment Kombat and CEO Cix Liv following a Sept. 18 San Francisco cage match between influencer Frankie LaPenna and three humanoid robots.
- Billed as the "first human vs. robot fight in history," the Sept. 18 competition placed LaPenna inside an octagon to battle three human-controlled machines; videos of the match have drawn more than 10 million YouTube views.
- Regulators maintain that any boxing or MMA contest involving a human in California requires prior state approval. The California Department of Consumer Affairs stated unsanctioned activity jeopardizes public safety and the "integrity of combat sports."
- Liv argued the regulations do not apply because the event did not involve "two persons," challenging the commission's authority over human-robot matches. REK has shifted focus to all-robot fights, though Liv said the company plans future human-robot bouts.
- LaPenna noted on Oct. 1 that California passed a law banning human-robot fights within 12 days of his match. Liv suggested the company may move future events to Vegas or states with less restrictive regulations.
18 Articles
18 Articles
'Human vs. Robot' cage match was a hit. State says event was illegal, but organizers aren't concerned
A human beat two out of three robots, including one inspired by 'Terminator,' during a recent cage match in San Francisco. The California State Athletic Commission says the event shouldn't have happened.
A robot in the Terminator look beats a person in a cage fight. This is possible thanks to a loophole in the regulations in the USA
California Clamps Down on Human vs. Humanoid Cage Fights
California regulators issued a cease-and-desist to REK after a human faced a Terminator-like humanoid robot in a San Francisco cage. The startup celebrates the letter while planning weaponized robot fights. Regulators draw a firm line at human involvement, but the spectacle continues.
California is trying to shut down robot vs. human cage matches
The California State Athletic Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to a startup that hosted a match between a human and a robot last month, as reported by The New York Times. The fight, which took place on September 18th, pitted a human, Frankie LaPenna, against a humanoid robot owned by a tech startup, Rek, that […]
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