Robotics startup REK has been hit with a formal cease-and-desist order after staging a human vs. humanoid robot cage fight in San Francisco. In a letter shared by founder and CEO Cix Liv, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) ordered the company to stop holding, promoting, or sponsoring any combat sports events involving humans without proper approval and licensing.
Inside the REK robot fight
On September 18, 2026, YouTuber Frankie LaPenna stepped into a fighting cage and faced three different robots in succession. Whether you call it a stunt or a sporting event, the match was clearly designed to promote REK’s platform, advertised as:
“Real pilots, real punches. Humanoid robots in brutal, full-contact combat.”
REK runs:
- Live events with full-contact humanoid robot fights,
- Private shows starting at around $10,000,
- A Real Robot Simulator on Steam and Meta Quest, where players who reach Pro rank can qualify to pilot a real robot at an event.
Why California stepped in
CSAC’s letter cites California Business and Professions Code sections 18640, 18870 and 18878, making it a misdemeanor to hold or promote any boxing or martial arts contest involving a human without a license from the commission.
Interestingly, the wording suggests CSAC’s jurisdiction kicks in only when at least one participant is human. A pure robot vs. robot fight likely wouldn’t have triggered the same response.
For robotics and teleoperation enthusiasts, REK’s case highlights a growing gray area: as humanoid fighting robots move from sci‑fi into real cages, regulators are being forced to define where spectacle ends and human safety law begins.
Source: Tom's Hardware
