Humanoid Robots Are Beating Each Other to Pulp in an Underground Fight Club

Four humanoid robots dangle from frames in a San Francisco warehouse, awaiting their training in a bizarre new combat sport. This is REK, a robotic fight club where machines will eventually slash each other with swords while human "pilots" control them using VR headsets.

"This is going to be the next UFC," says Cix Liv, the VR entrepreneur behind this mechanical gladiator arena. "When [my robot is] walking around with full swords, you can feel the pounding in the ground. You know deep in your soul that this thing could kill you."

But REK's ambitions hit a literal crash last month when a robot named DeREK had what could only be described as a tantrum. Unable to touch the ground, the humanoid thrashed violently until its supporting crane collapsed, sending part of its head flying upon impact.

Amanda Watson, REK's chief technology officer, quipped as they backed away from the malfunctioning machine: "Poor DeREK just wants to be free."

Unlike other robotics ventures, Liv's passion project comes with a personal sacrifice. "I'd made some money from a prior start-up and was deciding whether to get a mortgage on a house or have robots," he explains. "I chose to do this instead of having a house."