California Cracks Down on Man vs. Robot Fight Club
State officials deem an influencer's bout with a 'Terminator'-style robot illegal, citing boxing laws.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has issued a cease and desist order against Robot Entertainment Kombat (REK) following a viral fight between influencer Frankie LaPenna and a 200-pound, six-foot-tall robot designed to resemble the "Terminator." The fight, which took place on September 18 in San Francisco, was deemed unsanctioned and in violation of state boxing laws.
REK CEO Cix Liv received the order, which stated that hosting or promoting a contest without licensing is a misdemeanor. Andy Foster, Executive Officer of the California State Athletic Commission, reminded Liv that prior permission from the commission is required for all boxing matches.
Despite the DCA's intervention, Liv has argued that the law specifies matches must be between "two persons," suggesting a robot does not fit this definition. LaPenna, who won the match after two rounds, acknowledged the surreal nature of fighting a machine, noting he had to sign a waiver that absolved REK of liability in case of his death.
The robot, inspired by the "Terminator" films, weighed 200 pounds and possessed a kick force of 850 pounds. LaPenna, weighing 205 pounds, secured the win, though not before experiencing the robot's powerful kicks, one of which sent him barreling across the ring. LaPenna later commented that the machines were "one firmware update away from having the strength of Francis Ngannou and the technique of Islam Makhachev."
REK has previously organized fights in various U.S. cities and internationally, but these typically involved robots controlled by humans, with no human participants in the ring. The company currently has no further fights scheduled.
LaPenna, known for his social media presence and, at times, controversial physique, reportedly approached REK about scheduling the fight. Liv stated that the company's intention was to capture striking footage without causing harm to LaPenna.
The California Athletic Commission has stated that the unsanctioned fight will not be tolerated and indicated that it would consider new regulations as technology advances. The DCA has also asserted its stance that the fight was illegal.