REK's human vs robot cage fight was steered by a pilot backstage
On September 18, 2026 the robotics company REK put creator Frankie LaPenna in a perspex cage in San Francisco against EngineAI's T800, a six-foot humanoid styled as a Terminator and reported at roughly 1.73 to 1.83 meters and 75 to 85 kilograms. Footage shows LaPenna landing several punches before the robot answered with kicks, one sending him across the mat and another into the cage wall. A kick left him on the canvas and ended the exhibition, and LaPenna later posted a photo of his swollen hand and said it had been broken. The robot was not autonomous: a human pilot backstage controlled it in real time through a VR headset and controllers, while the onboard AI handled balance and posture. Every decision about when and where to strike came from a person.