The California State Athletic Commission has moved to stop operations at a startup known as Rek following a controversial bout between a human fighter and a robotic opponent. According to reports from The New York Times, the commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company after the event took place on September 18th.
During the match, human fighter Frankie LaPenna faced off against a humanoid robot owned by Rek. The robot was controlled by a human operator utilizing a remote virtual-reality system. Rek describes itself as the “humanoid robot fighting league” on its official website. The machine visible in footage appears to be built on an EngineAI chassis but features a custom head designed to resemble the iconic Terminator aesthetic.
Video recordings of the altercation are available for viewing on YouTube, marking one of the first public instances of such a contest in the state. The regulatory intervention signals strict scrutiny from state officials regarding unsanctioned hybrid combat events.
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